Summer teacher participants visit the Breazeale Nuclear Reactor at the Penn State University Park campus.
Research Experience for Teachers (RET) Program
The Research Experience for Teachers (RET) Program offered by the Center for Nanoscale Science matches a pair of middle and/or high school teachers with a research lab for a unique 2-week introduction to scientific research from an individual investigator level all the way to the institutional level and beyond. Participating labs range from materials science to many other scientific topic areas, and are often interdisciplinary, so teachers with interests across a broad range of scientific disciplines are encouraged and eligible to apply. Matching the scientific interests of applicants to the available faculty adviser expertise each year is a fundamental strength of the program, and therefore a core part of the selection process.
The cohort of teachers who enlist in this program each summer actively share the expertise that they bring to the program, engage in a variety of activities that link to potential future resources at Penn State, learn fundamental skills and knowledge to consider translating to their classrooms, and become acutely aware of the "systems thinking" approach that is vital for citizens to gain in our global society.
See the here for more info.
Mission: Materials Science website featuring hands-on activities that align with NGSS & short videos featuring scientists!
Continuing the Center's longstanding partnership with The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, where multiple themed-kits of table-top demonstrations were created and distributed to museums and science centers around the country, Center graduate students shifted their efforts to virtual distribution of DIY-at-home activities (using easy-to-obtain supplies) about key materials science concepts through a website platform. Although originally designed for informal science settings, the site's applicability to classroom content became evident. Site content can nicely augment and extend formal science content, causing both the activities and associated videos to be posted on PBS Learning Media.
Classroom Activities & Demonstrations
Over the years, MRSEC researchers have developed has an assortment of activity ideas, conceptual interactive models, and materials science demonstrations for informal and formal educational environments. Many of these are archived on this site under the "For the Public" tab: "Nano Activities for Kids", "Museum Kits", and "Mission: Materials Science". Teachers who are interested in requesting a demonstration or activity led by a team of graduate student presenters should contact Kristin Dreyer (kad4@psu.edu) or Sarah Boehm (sjb340@psu.edu).