NUFAB Welcomes More Than 100 to Its First Open House

On October 6, 2026, NUFAB hosted its first-ever Open House, welcoming new students and prospective users to explore the NUFAB cleanroom facility and to discover the cutting-edge instrumentation that supports nano-, micro-, and quantum fabrication at Northwestern. More than 100 students, researchers, and friends from seven Northwestern departments and three external research organizations joined us for a noon filled with tours, hands-on activities, fun, and food. The enthusiastic crowd filled the NUFAB conference room and the corridors, creating a lively atmosphere throughout the event.

Guided tours gave attendees an inside look at the cleanroom and an introduction to the sophisticated tools used to fabricate nanoscale and microscale devices. Throughout the event, NUFAB staff demonstrated equipment, answered questions, and showcased impactful research enabled by the facility, including nano- and micro-devices fabricated in the cleanroom and featured in high-impact scientific journals. One of the highlights of the afternoon was the opportunity to play games specially designed and fabricated at the micrometer scale, giving attendees a fun and tangible way to experience the world of microfabrication. The event wrapped up with a raffle, with 5 lucky attendees taking home prizes.

A lively crowd gathers for NUFAB Open House.

We are thrilled by the enthusiasm and support from the Northwestern and broader research communities. The success of our first Open House reflects the growing interest in NUFAB and the exciting research taking place in our facility. We look forward to welcoming even more students, researchers, and collaborators to NUFAB in the future!