2004 marks the Ten Year Anniversary of the Materials Research Science & Engineering Centers of the National Science Foundation. These ground-breaking centers are located at universities across America. Each center has a unique, interdisciplinary focus in which research in materials science becomes an innovative force in the realms of knowledge and education. Developments and discoveries of each center contribute to the vast growth of technology in areas such as energy, transportation, biomaterials, microelectronics, optics and photonics, and information storage. As business and industry work to integrate this innovative research into the manufacturing of new technologies and materials, the MRSEC centers themselves work to innovate the field of education in America.
Using the model of interdisciplinary study and cutting edge scientific research, Education Directors at each NSF MRSEC explore new models for educating undergraduates, K-12 grade students, and the general public. Opportunities are created for teachers of every level to learn more about the discipline of materials-research science in order to expand and enhance classroom instruction. Information in this field has the potential to infuse education in such diverse subject areas as physics, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, computer science, technology and society, and social studies.
The Education & Outreach Programs at the twenty-eight centers develop new methods for improving the awareness and knowledge of students, teachers, parents, and the general public through such diverse activities as:
