The Colorado Center advances basic liquid crystal and soft materials science and seeks enhanced capabilities for electro-optic, nonlinear optic, chemical and other applications of liquid crystals. Industrial interaction focuses on fostering of and collaboration with U.S. display and telecom industries. The Center operates a vigorous education outreach program featuring science shows for the K-12 audience, and "Materials Science from CU", a program of traveling physical science enrichment classes reaching about 8,000 Colorado K-12 students/year.