Education Programs

REU : June 2 - August 7, 2008
The Cornell Center for Materials Research is offering a special summer research program with a stipend valued at $3750, room in one of Cornell’s on-campus dorms and additional funds for travel (non-CU students only). During the ten-week period, students will work with Cornell faculty on interdisciplinary materials research projects involving chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering disciplines. Students will also participate in an organized program of lectures, mini-courses (e.g. electronics, microscopy), laboratory visits and a variety of recreational activities.

• Open to Fall 2008 undergraduates who are US Citizens or permanent residents.
• Selection will be based on academic standing and faculty recommendations.
• Minority and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• All chemistry, physics and engineering majors are welcome to apply.

Next Team-RET Program:

June 30 - August 8, 2008, at Cornell Unversity, Ithaca, NY

Team-RET provides middle school, high school and community college math and science teachers with an intense, six-week period of in-depth study at the CCMR laboratories with facility managers, faculty, and graduate students. In the Team-RET program, six select science teachers spend the first five weeks primarily in the CCMR Shared Experimental Facilities. They work together as a team to understand how the equipment in the facility works and to solve research problems set out by the facility manager. The sixth week is dedicated to developing a materials science related lesson plan based on their experience in the facilities. Copies of Team-RET alumni lesson plans can be found on our RET Modules page. In the 9 years since the RET program’s inception at CCMR, 51 teachers have participated.

For more information on the Team-RET program please see our RET FAQ’s page.

To apply for Team-RET, see our How to Apply page.

Research Experience for Teachers II (Independent-RET)

Next Independent-RET Program: June 30 - August 22, 2008

A similar eight-week program, called Independent-RET, was initiated as a result of the Team-RET teachers’ interest in deepening their understanding of materials research. This follow-up program provides each teacher with an opportunity to work directly with a faculty member on an independent research topic. Initially, some teachers are hesitant to step directly into an independent research program, but are usually eager to do so after the team-style program offered in the first year.

At the end of both the Team- and Independent-RET programs, teachers are expected to develop a materials science related lesson plan. These lesson plans, which we refer to as modules, have been as varied as the teacher that have participated and have ranged in topic from geology to biodegradable polymers to balsa wood bridges. The full list of RET developed modules can be found on the RET Modules page.

To apply for Independent-RET, contact the educational outreach office.

For High School Science Teachers
Saturday, March 15, 2008

The Cornell Science Sampler Series (CSSS) is a collaboration between several of the outreach offices of Cornell’s research centers and departments to provide teacher professional development in the areas of science, engineering, technology and math.

Program Location:

Cornell Weill Medical Center
1300 York Ave.
New York City, NY 10021

Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) is a one-day conference for 7th-9th grade girls. The girls each participate in three workshops organized by Cornell students and faculty. The goals of the conference are to stimulate the participants interest in math and science through these hands-on activities, to provide them with female scientist role models, and to foster awareness of opportunities in math and science-related careers.

The 2008 EYH Conference will take place on Saturday April 26.

Next CICT Program:
July 14-18 2008, at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Designed specifically for high school chemistry teachers, the CCMR Institute for Chemistry Teachers (CICT) is a unique opportunity for professional development. The Institute currently offers a one-week course CHEM 501: Contemporary Chemistry for Teachers, for graduate credit.

• Lesson plans and student activity sheets can be downloaded.
• Kits with necessary materials are also available.

The CCMR Educational Programs Office introduces its latest educational resource for teachers, the Lending Library of Experiments. The Lending Library offers lesson plans and student activity sheets available for download on a wide variety of science topics. Kits also exist for many of the activities, which can be checked out free of charge, to help teachers facilitate the activity in the classroom. The CCMR Lending Library is made possible through the generous support of the National Science Foundation, Hewlett Packard, and Micheal and Lida Riedlinger.