Other Outreach Program @ University of Pennsylvania
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.