Materials Camp Student Support 2003

University Of Washington, Seattle WA

Investigators

Abstract

This proposal is to provide for participant support for high school students attending the Materials Camp program during summer 2003. These camps are similar to the Materials Camp program funded in 2002 by NSF Engineering Division. The program provides hands-on learning in materials science and technology for high school students from across the U.S. In 2003 two Materials Camp programs are planned, each for 30 students. The two programs are to be held as follows: Materials Camp West, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, July 7 - 13, 2003 Materials Camp East, Materials Park, OH, August 11 - 17, 2003 The curriculum of the camps includes engineering applications of metals, ceramics, polymers, composites and biomaterials. Students experience learning using both set laboratory experiments and a team project in which they explore structure-property- processing-applications relationships in materials as related to engineering systems. Everyday materials systems are the foundation of the program, building to more advanced applications. Professional society volunteers work with each team of five students to ensure real learning and motivation. The camp concludes with project presentations by the students to a professional audience. The expected outcome of this project are a set of 60 students who are more knowledgeable of engineering and engineering applications, with specific experience in the area of materials. Our evaluation of previous camps is very positive in convincing students to consider and enroll in engineering in college. Thus our expectation is that we will be able to focus students on the advantages of engineering studies and thus increase engineering enrollments, not just among the students who attend but among their peers as well. The intellectual merit of this proposal relates to the knowledge that these student will learn. The students who attend the camp are generally the better students in a high school. Most of them initially indicate that they are not interested in science or engineering, but rather other areas from art to social science to medicine. Using the focused, hands-on approach of the camp program, our experience shows that the intellectual content of the camp excites them, thus broadening their thinking as to a career and future study. The broader impact of the program provides these bright students with specific understanding of the potential of careers in engineering, provides a potential new set of students for science and enginering study, thus increasing the pool of U.S. students interested in science and engineering. It also serves to broaden student understanding of the field of materials, and demonstrates the centrality of materials to engineering and science.