Education Programs

Pennsylvania Summer Science Initiative

Penn’s MRSEC offers a four-week summer course for high school science students from the Delaware Valley. Begun in 1996, the course includes lectures in materials science by affiliated MRSEC faculty, a daily computer lab, week-long experimental labs on metals, ceramics, polymers and semiconductors that include use of our shared experimental facilities, and weekly visits to both industrial and university facilities. This program is offered free to students.

Science of Philadelphia TV program

Faculty and staff contribute to the School District of Philadelphia’s cable TV science show, The Science of Philadelphia, both through videoconference programming and direct studio presentations, with sixteen programs presented by faculty from seven departments.

In School Participation

In recent years, several of our faculty members from the departments of Physics and MSE have visited local high schools to participate in classroom activities.

Other than K-12, REU & RET programs, the University of Pennsylvania has additional MRSEC outreach programs such as:

Teachers Lecture Series

A monthly evening lecture series for high school science teachers was started in 1993 in which MRSEC affiliated faculty present some aspect of their research. This free program runs from September through May/June each year and attracts, on average 10-15 teachers. They receive PA credit for attending each lecture.

Workshop on Science in Archaeology

In 2004 a collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology began through which we have offered a one day workshop on Science in Archaeology. Three lectures are given on archaeochemistry, conservation of pottery, and bronze casting technology along with tours of LRSM’s shared experimental facilities, the Museum’s Conservation Department, and a local bronze casting foundry. This workshop is free to participants.

Collaboration with Southern Africa

A program was established in 2003 to bring science faculty from both South Africa and Lesotho, a small country land-locked within South Africa, to the MRSEC. Since then, 3- 4 faculty members have collaborated with MRSEC affiliated faculty every year for periods ranging from 1-3 months, usually during summer. One MRSEC faculty member visited both the National University of Lesotho and the University of the North West, SA, in 2006 to assess their needs.

Partnership on Research and Education in Materials, PREM

Since 1998 the MRSEC has collaborated with University of Puerto Rico faculty at Humacao, Rio Piedras, and Cayey, first through the CIRE program and more recently as part of a PREM. Joint research projects are undertaken and UPR faculty and students come to the MRSEC during the summer to perform research and use our Shared Research Facilities. Details of this program can be found under PREM elsewhere on this site.

Thermal Analysis Community Outreach

For many years, we have collaborated with the local Thermal Analysis Forum of Delaware Valley to increase the participation of graduate students in the use of thermal analytical techniques. This collaboration involves organizing an evening poster competition for graduates in December and a Spring Symposium on thermal analysis at which graduate students are major contributors.

Research Experience for Undergraduates

An REU program on materials research was established at the LRSM in 1989 and since then 439 students have participated. Students are matched with advisors before starting this ten-week summer program. They undertake individual research projects under the guidance of a graduate student or post doctoral fellow in the advisor’s group and are required to give both an oral and written report on their work before leaving the program.

Research Experience for Teachers

An RET program on materials research was established at the LRSM for high school science teachers from the Delaware Valley in 1999 and since then 43 teachers have gone through this program. They are matched with faculty advisors and undertake a six week research project under the guidance of a graduate student or post-doctoral fellow in the advisor’s group. Teachers are required to give both an oral presentation of their results and submit a written report before leaving the program. Teachers are also required to submit a written report in the following year on how their experience helped them in class.