On May 20, 2015, over 250 middle and high school students participated in the inaugural MRSEC Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Student Expo. The Expo extends the impact of the MRSEC RET program beyond participating teachers to their students via direct interaction with UMN researchers. During the school year, a secure website was set up to allow students to ask questions of the same researchers who mentored their teachers during the summer at UMN. After successful completion of the classroom research experience, the students were invited to the UMN campus to present their work in person via the Student Expo Poster Session. A full day of activities was planned leading up to the poster session, which included an admissions presentation, scientific demonstration show, and tours of the Minnesota Nano Center, Valspar Materials Lab, and seven faculty laboratories.
