City College has partnered with UCSB to enhance its Nanotechnology program, offering students new opportunities in the Semiconductor field. The partnership aims to provide students at City College with recognized credentials in semiconductor technology. 

Semiconductors are the materials that allow electric current to pass through them. They are used to manufacture devices such as computers and phones. Nanotechnology is the science of dealing with minute things to achieve new materials or devices. Together, semiconductors and nanotechnology make electronics compact, faster, and strong.

UCSB currently offers one week boot camps for regional City College students to explore their interest in microchip and semiconductor manufacturing. If students find the experience engaging, they will have the opportunity to pursue a degree in this field at City College, paving the way for career prospects in the industry. 

“There just weren’t enough people locally that knew how to make microchips…so this effort with City College is really my effort to try and help our local population, who have families here, have roots here, and want to find a way to be able to stay here with their families, try to get them into high paying careers,” said Demis John, a staff scientist at UCSB who works within the nanofabrication facility. 

This partnership not only addresses immediate workforce needs but also supports the long-term economic development of Santa Barbara. 

In reference to boosting the economy through offering this pathway of nano technology development, John explained, “This is something that I think we all yearn for, people who’ve grown up here and lived here, to be able to do this,” he said. “These are real pathways to actually do that, [and] are sustainable. The city already has an amazing ecosystem for making high tech microchips.”

As technology continues to evolve rapidly, the semiconductor industry plays a major role in driving innovation across various parts, including electronics, automotive, and healthcare.

The collaboration between City College and UCSB aims to create a sustainable pipeline of talent by providing students with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. The boot camps serve as an entry point, allowing students to gain hands-on exposure to the industry while determining if they want to commit to further studies.

With Santa Barbara’s robust ecosystem for technology innovation matched with the research facilities and opportunities offered at  UCSB, the partnership in itself has the potential of offering not just the best education possible but also positioning the region for leadership in the areas of semiconductor technology and nanotechnology.

In this collaboration with City College and UCSB, there will be further expansion in the future on training programs, scholarships, and internships for the students who work towards high-technology advancement.

“The real story is that we’re going to improve the economic outcomes and economic mobility of the people in Santa Barbara County,” John said.