UW MRSEC
Columbia University, Center for Nanostructured Materials
Instructional Materials for K-12 Classrooms
Product Name: The Ron McNair Curriculum Integration To Interactively Engage Students (CITIES) Program
Science/Engineering Topic Areas: Initial target: high school. Future: middle school physics, chemistry and earth sciences classes.
Target Audience: Grades 9-12
Product Description: The aim of this new collaboration is to enhance curriculum for New York City Regents testing with engaging lab demonstrations by adapting existing material in program development. Our goals are to increase student engagement, (as promoted by the NYC Regents), to motivate students to enjoy learning and to educate the public; we will work directly with teachers in order to develop lesson plans, complement current labs and to train teachers to work with other teachers in order to integrate materials science demonstrations into their teaching.
URL link: http://www.cise.columbia.edu/mrsec/
Email address for product support: ab765@columbia.edu
Collaborations: The Columbia University MRSEC is partnering with NYC Department of Education, Instructional Region 10.
Outreach Programs for K-12 Students
Program Title: Columbia's MRSEC NYC School Visitation Program
Target Audience: Grades 8-12
Frequency Offered: Approx. 4 schools are visited per semester, 8 total per calendar year
Program Description: During each visit, the field of materials science is explained by a team of 2-3 undergraduate, graduate students and/or post docs through exciting, hands-on demonstrations incorporating "every day" objects. One goal of these visits is to foster the interests of K-12 students in science and technology by showing them the marvels of materials science and engineering and describing the relevance of science to quality of life; another objective is to improve the retention of a diverse student body on track for careers in science and technology.
URL link: http://www.cise.columbia.edu/mrsec/
Collaborations: Our demonstration modules have been adapted from those prepared by ASM, TMS, the American Ceramic Society and by Brian D. Flinn, Gordon Graff, Katie Gunnison and James Webb of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the University of Washington.
K-12 Teacher Training Workshops
Program Title: Research Experience for Teachers (RET) Program
Target Audience: Grades 9-12
Frequency Offered: 10 weeks every summer
Program Description: The primary aim of the program is to provide New York City public high school science teachers with sustained hands-on experience in scientific research so they can better understand the practice of science and better transmit to their students and fellow teachers a feeling for its practice. Each MRSEC RET participant spends two consecutive summers working as a laboratory research assistant under the supervision of a Columbia MRSEC faculty mentor and participates in weekly Monday meetings with other teachers, science and education professionals in the Columbia University Summer Research Program for Science Teachers that encourage professional development, scientific understanding and communication, science teaching, peer coaching and technology development; at an end of the summer symposium, the first-year teachers give a poster presentation and second-year teachers present an oral talk.
URL link: http://www.cise.columbia.edu/mrsec/
Collaborations: Dr. Samuel Siverstein, Director and Mr. Jay Dubner, Program Coordinator, Columbia University's Summer Research Program for Science Teachers - http://www.scienceteacherprogram.org/, Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Brown University, Micro and Nano-Mechanics of Electronic and Structural Materials
Instructional Materials for K-12 Classrooms
Product Name: BrownOut/RET
Science/Engineering Topic Areas: All
Target Audience: Grades K-12
Product Description: Modules and materials for teacher use, developed by Brown faculty, often in collaboration with teachers in the RET program
URL link: http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Advanced_Materials_Research/
Email address for product support: camr@brown.edu
Outreach Programs for K-12 Students
Program Title: BrownOut
Target Audience: Grades K-12
Frequency Offered: Yearly: 3-4 visits per week during the academic year.
Product Description: Brown undergraduate engineering students develop and present engineering and science classroom modules to local k-12 classrooms. Students are trained and guided in their presentations.
URL link: http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Advanced_Materials_Research/
K-12 Teacher Training Workshops
Program Title: Thinking with Stuff
Target Audience: Teachers of grades K-12, with focus on 5-12
Frequency Offered: Annually
Program Description: Faculty with backgrounds in engineering, physics, chemistry, and mathematics discuss instructional materials in a workshop format. Six, 2.5 hour sessions. Limited to 20 teachers per year.
URL link: http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Advanced_Materials_Research/
Collaborations: Brown University Department of Education

Northwestern University, MRSEC
Instructional Materials for K-12 Classrooms
Product Name: Materials World Modules
Science/Engineering Topic Areas: Composites, Ceramics, Concrete, Biosensors, Biodegradable Materials, Smart Sensors, Polymers, Food Packaging, and Sports Materials
Target Audience: Grades 6-12
Product Description: The NSF-funded Materials World Modules MWM) Program has produced a series of interdisciplinary modules based on topics in materials science, including Composites, Ceramics, Concrete, Biosensors, Biodegradable Materials, Smart Sensors, Polymers, Food Packaging, and Sports Materials. The modules are designed for use in middle and high school science, technology, and math classes and have been used by 28,000 students in 47 states across the U.S. and internationally at 13 army base Department of Defense districts.
URL link: http://www.materialsworldmodules.org
Email address for product support: mwm@northwestern.edu
Outreach Programs for K-12 Students
Program Title: High School Facility Workshop and Tour
Target Audience: Grades 9-12
Frequency Offered: Biannually
Program Description: On November 25, 2002, about 70 students from an engineering class at Glenbrook South High School (Glenview, IL) and an Advanced Placement chemistry class at Evanston Township High School (Evanston, IL) visited the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Northwestern University. During their visit, the students met with researchers in four labs: Scanning Probe Microscopy, Electron Microscopy, X-ray, and Mechanical Testing.
URL link: http://www.materialsworldmodules.org
Collaborations: Northwestern University, Materials Research Science & Engineering Center, McCormick School of Engineering
K-12 Teacher Training Workshops
Program Title: Research Experience for Science Teachers (RET)
Target Audience: Teachers of Grades 6-12 and college students
Frequency Offered: Annually
Program Description: The Research Experience for Science Teachers (REST) Program originated at Northwestern University in 1993 and provides middle school, high school and community college science teachers the opportunity to conduct materials-related research for 8 weeks over the summer. While engaged in materials research, participants learn the latest scientific and technological developments, network with Northwestern University faculty, graduate students, and other science teachers, and discover methods to transfer aspects of their research to their classrooms.
URL link: http://mrcemis.ms.nwu.edu/mrsec/education/edu_rest.htm
Collaborations: Materials World Modules Program at Northwestern University

University of Pennsylvania, PENN MRSEC
Outreach Programs for K-12 Students
Program Title: Pennsylvania Summer Science Initiative, PSSI
Target Audience: Grades 10-11
Frequency Offered: Annually
Program Description: Free 4-week lecture/lab program for 24 high school students on materials science.
URL link: http://www.lrsm.upenn.edu/outreach/
Collaborations: Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
K-12 Teacher Training Workshops
Program Title: Enrichment Course for High School Science Teachers
Target Audience: Grades 6-12
Frequency Offered: Monthly
Program Description: Monthly lecture series by faculty on current research topic.
URL link: http://www.lrsm.upenn.edu/outreach/
Collaborations: Penn faculty

Cornell University, Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR)
Instructional Materials for K-12 Classrooms
Product Name: An Introduction to Diffraction
Science/Engineering Topic Areas: Physics
Target Audience: Grades 7-12
Product Description: Students learn what diffraction is then use it to measure the spacing between tracks on cd's and dvd's.
URL link: http://www.ccmr.cornell.edu/education/modules/
Email address for product support: outreach@ccmr.cornell.edu
Outreach Programs for K-12 Students
Program Title: Homeschoolers at the Sciencenter
Target Audience: Grades K-12
Frequency Offered: Monthly
Program Description: Students in the home-schooling community attend science programs at the local science museum. The content and materials for the activities are provided by CCMR.
URL link: http://www.ccmr.cornell.edu/education/k12/homeschool.html
Collaborations: The Sciencenter of Ithaca
K-12 Teacher Training Workshops
Program Title: Materials Science Workshop
Target Audience: High School and Community College Chemistry Teachers
Frequency Offered: Annually
Program Description: The Materials Science Workshop is a one-day laboratory experience that pairs up participating teachers with professors and researchers at Cornell University to perform several experiments throughout the day. The experiments, which provide viable material for a classroom setting, include polymer synthesis and structure, preparation and properties of superconductors, phase diagrams and colligative properties, solid-state crystal models, spectral analysis, light-emitting diodes, and the piezoelectric effect.
URL link: http://www.ccmr.cornell.edu/education/teacher/msw.html
Collaborations: Cornell Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department, Teaching General Chemistry: A Materials Science Companion by Arthur Ellis et al. (Each workshop participant receives a free copy).

University of Chicago, MRSEC
Outreach Programs for K-12 Students
Program Title: Demos for Elementary School Kids
Target Audience: Grades 4-6
Frequency Offered: On Request
Program Description: Scientific materials related demonstrations by graduate students and post docs.
URL link: http://mrsec.uchicago.edu/
Email address for product support: nmuggen@midway.uchicago.edu
Program Title: Young Women Leadership Charter School Internship (YWLCS)
Target Audience: Ages 14-18, girls
Frequency Offered: Contact: Eileen Sheu, Outreach Director, 773-834-9916
Program Description: Academic internship for high school girls providing an introduction to various aspects of materials research.
URL link: http://mrsec.uchicago.edu/
Email address for product support: esheu@uchicago.edu
Program Title: Young Scholars Program
Target Audience: Grades 7-12
Frequency Offered: Contact: Dr. Paul Sally, Jr., 773-702-7388
Program Description: 4-week intensive math program for middle and high schoolers
URL link: http://mrsec.uchicago.edu/
Email address for product support: sally@math.uchicago.edu
Program Title: Mentoring Program
Target Audience: Grades K-12
Frequency Offered: Contact: Dr. Paul Sally, Jr., 773-702-7388
Program Description: Academic mentoring program.
URL link: http://mrsec.uchicago.edu/
Email address for product support: esheu@uchicago.edu
Program Title: Hartigan School Collaborations, Dragonfly TV, Chicago Academic Achievement Program, Ontario Science Center, National Science Olympiad, Science Camp.
Target Audience: Grades K-12
Frequency Offered: Contact: Eileen Sheu, Outreach Director, 773-834-9916
Program Description: General exposure to science.
URL link: http://mrsec.uchicago.edu/
Email address for product support: esheu@uchicago.edu
K-12 Teacher Training Workshops
Program Title: SESAME-Staff Development Program in Mathematics and Science Leading to State Endorsement
Target Audience: Elementary Specialists and Mathematics Educators
Frequency Offered: Contact: Dr. Paul Sally, Jr., 773-702-7388
Program Description: Teacher enrichment program
URL link: http://mrsec.uchicago.edu/

Stanford Universtiy/IBM/Almaden/UC Berkeley, Center on Polymer Interfaces and Macromolecular Assemblies
Instructional Materials for K-12 Classrooms
Product Name: Probing the Unknown
Science/Engineering Topic Areas: Instrumentation (characterization), properties of materials
Target Audience: Grade 6
Product Description: Students explore the concept of characterization and the development of scientific tools through a module containing five hands-on activities. Each activity contains an overview, lesson plan, student guide and scoring guide/assessment.
URL link: http://stanford.edu/group/CPIMA/education/EDKIT/html/probemain.htm
Email address for product support: marni@chemeng.stanford.edu
Collaborations: Developed as part of RET program.
Outreach Programs for K-12 Students
Program Title: Eastside Science Fair
Target Audience: Grades 6-8
Frequency Offered: Once a year
Program Description: Stanford students (undergraduate, graduate, post-doctoral and medical) are paired with student groups from Eastside College Preparatory School (a nonprofit school in East Palo Alto serving a 100% underrepresented, low-income student population) to mentor them on a science project. Groups meet throughout the school year and then present their projects at a school science fair.
URL link: http://stanford.edu/group/CPIMA/education/eastside_fair.htm

University of Oklahoma & University of Arkansas, Center for Semiconductor Physics in Nanostructures
Instructional Materials for K-12 Classrooms
Product Name: Inquiry Based Science/Math Lesson Plans
Science/Engineering Topic Areas: DNA, Architectural Design, Scientific Process, Cell Activity, Fossils, Seirpinski's Triangle, Evaporation, Capacity, States of Matter, Magnetic Forces, and Leverage.
Target Audience: Grades 6-7
Product Description: During the summer of 2003 GK-12 fellows guided by GK-12 and C-SPIN support staff and middle school science and math teachers, developed inquiry based science/math lesson plans. These plans were ultimately used throughout the year in their assigned classroom.
URL link: http://gk12.uark.edu
Email address for product support: pcallej@uark.edu
Outreach Programs for K-12 Students
Program Title: Sooner Elementary Engineering and Science (SeeS)
Target Audience: Grades pre-K- 5
Frequency Offered: 1/month/site at multiple sites
Program Description: SeeS is a hands-on, university student guided, informal, after-school science club. University volunteers meet with students for one-hour each month to explore multiple activities related to a physical science or engineering theme.
URL link: http://www.nhn.ou.edu/cspin/educational/sees.html
Collaborations: University of Oklahoma College of Engineering
Program Title: Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology (BEST)
Target Audience: Grades 6 - 12
Frequency Offered: 6 weeks per year
Program Description: BEST is a technology contest for high school and junior high students that simulates real world experiences in a sports-like robotics competition. Student teams are given the task of designing, building, testing and reworking a robot in a six-week time frame using only specified materials.
URL link: http://www.nhn.ou.edu/cspin/educational/best.html
Collaborations: BEST, Inc.

University of Wisconsin-Madison, MRSEC on Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces
Instructional Materials for K-12 Classrooms
Product Name: Nanoworld Movie Cineplex
Science/Engineering Topic Areas: Nanotechnology, Advanced Materials, Microscopy
Target Audience: Grades 6-12
Product Description: The Nanoworld Cineplex is an on-line resource for teachers to use as a demonstration tool in their classroom. The Nanoworld Cineplex facilitiates instruction in science and technology using a visual medium to show basic experiments related to nanotechnology.
URL link: http://www.mrsec.wisc.edu/edetc/cineplex/index.html
Email address for product support: Prof. George Lisensky, lisensky@beloit.edu; Prof. Wendy Crone, crone@engr.wisc.edu
Collaborations: Beloit College, Beloit, WI; Christian Brother University, Memphis, TN; Discovery World Museum, Milwaukee, WI; Lawrence University, Appleton, WI; Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, VA; Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI; Milwaukee Public Schools; Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL
Product Name: Exploring the Nanoworld Kit
Science/Engineering Topic Areas: Nanotechnology, Advanced Materials, Microscopy
Target Audience: Grades K-12
Product Description: The Exploring the Nanoworld Kit is based on a 32-page color activity booklet that places the nanoscale in context and includes a dozen experiments for you to try. The kit includes a light emitting diode circuit, a fiber optic, a memory metal wire, a refrigerator magnet, a diffraction slide and a 9-volt battery.
URL link: http://www.mrsec.wisc.edu/EDETC/supplies/kit/index.html
Other Kits related to teaching the basics of nanotechnology available at: http://ice.chem.wisc.edu/catalogitems/ScienceKits.htm
Collaborations: University of Wisconsin Institute for Chemical Research
Outreach Programs for K-12 Students
Program Title: Engineering EXPO (biennial event)
Target Audience: Grades K-12
Frequency Offered: Once per year for two consecutive days April
Program Description: Engineering EXPO is a two-day event on the UW campus open to K-12 school groups and the general public. The MRSEC exhibit, a main attraction of the event, highlights the role of materials science in creating the building blocks of engineering, and includes hands-on table-top demonstrations about nanotechnology and advanced materials led by MRSEC graduate students and faculty.
URL link: http://www.mrsec.wisc.edu/edetc/expo03/index.html
Collaborations: University of Wisconsin - Madison College of Engineering, with assistance and donations from the Institute for Chemical Education (ICE), American Chemical Society, SPEXOTICS, Ray-O-Vac Corporation
K-12 Teacher Training Workshops
Program Title: Making the Nanoworld Comprehensible: Strategies for Incorporating Cutting-Edge Nanoscale Science and Technology into Your Classroom" Workshop held at Wisconsin Society for Science Teachers (WSST) Annual Convention
Target Audience: Middle and high school teachers
Frequency Offered: The UW MRSEC traditionally offers a workshop at the annual convention of WSST.
Program Description: At the WSST conference and the Educators' Night Out workshops, UW MRSEC and its Internships in Public Science Education (IPSE) program lead a workshop on "Exploring the Nanoworld" and integrating nanotechnology curricula into 6-12 classrooms. Teachers learn about the curricula available through MRSEC and IPSE, try out the classroom activities that have been developed and interact, with table-top demonstrations about nanotechnology and advanced materials.
URL link: http://mrsec.wisc.edu/edetc/IPSE/educators/workshops.html
Collaborations: Wisconsin Society for Science Teachers; Discovery World Museum, Milwaukee, WI
Program Title: Research Experiences for Teachers
Target Audience: Middle and high school teachers
Frequency Offered: Every summer
Program Description: The Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program is funded by the National Science Foundation. It provides a professional development opportunity to K-12 science teachers by placing them in a research laboratory during the summer. The program that has been established at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) focuses on materials science and science at the nanoscale, the scale of atoms.
URL link: http://www.mrsec.wisc.edu/EDETC/ret/index.html
Email address for product support: gmzenner@wisc.edu
Collaborations: University of Wisconsin Departments of Chemistry and Engineering Physics