Outreach Program

The Department is closely involved with a variety of programs designed to reach out to students in the K-12 schools and community colleges, both regionally and nationally. These programs are described briefly below. 

1) MSE High school Visitation program. Students from the Materials Science and Engineering program visit middle and high schools with an exciting 45 min program that introduces materials to the students. Available with advanced planning only. Contact Prof. Brian Flinn. 

2) Engineering Open House. This program is held each spring and provides demonstrations, lectures and hands-on activities for students of all ages.  All Engineering departments participate. For details, contact Prof. Brian Flinn.

3) EMTECH Materials Technology programs for teachers. Teachers in middle and high schools, and in community colleges, attend institute programs, workshops and conferences to learn how to teach Materials Science and Materials Technology as a hands-on science. A full curriculum is presented which may be used as a stand-alone course or as supplements to existing courses in the physical sciences.  Sponsored by the National Science Foundation, this program is now sponsored jointly with Edmonds Community College.  Information is available from Dr. John Rusin, at Edmonds Community College. 

4) Materials Camp for high school students. This program, sponsored by ASM International, provides a one-week experience for high school juniors and seniors in which they study and learn about Materials Science and Engineering as a hands-on science. Students learn about metals, ceramics, polymers and composite materials and their applications in structural and electronic applications. They also solve failure analysis problems provided by the materials industry. Students are selected through nominations from their local ASM chapters, with selection being made nationally by ASM International.