Educational outreach activities at the Northwestern University Materials Research Science & Engineering Center

CHED 156

Monica Olvera de la Cruz, m-olvera@northwestern.edu, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, K111, Evanston, IL 60208
There are three major goals of educational outreach efforts at science and engineering research centers. The first is to train the next generation of leaders in scientific research: these are the programs focusing on encouraging undergraduates to participate in research. The second goal is to help groups who are traditionally under-represented in the technical fields gain interest in science as a school subject and research and engineering as future career paths: these are programs focusing on K-12 teachers and students, especially women, under-represented minorities and students from low-income families. The third goal is to actively involve members of academia in the education of young people: this is why professors, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows mentor undergraduates, K-12 teachers and students. I will discuss the various programs our Center currently coordinates, and present plans for increased use of the internet as an educational tool that can reach an international audience.