University of Pennsylvania 3231 Walnut Street
Philadelphia PA 19104-6202 |
LRSM Outreach | NSF-REU NSF-RET | MASSI | PSSI / Summer Courses for H.S. Students |
| Burstein lecture | enrichment courses for h.s. science teachers | Maddin lecture |
| other outreach | telepresence | CIRE / CIRE meeting |
The materials research program at the LRSM has long recognized the need for materials education and outreach to the wider scientific community and local schools, colleges and universities To that end, over the last few years, we have established an integrated program that embraces high school, undergraduate and graduate students as well as the industrial scientist and engineer. The following programs are either in operation or being established and additional methods of outreach are detailed below.
NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates
Over the last fourteen years the LRSM has organized an NSF-REU Summer Fellowship program with a total enrollment of 312 students, approximately 45% of whom were minorities, 40% women, and combined total of 60% from under-represented groups. Each student spends 10 weeks working with an LRSM-affiliated faculty member on an independent research project. During the program a team of nine faculty members present a weekly lecture on some aspect of materials research and, during the final week, each student is required to make a presentation of his/her research to the other students and interested faculty. Each must also submit a final report and a prize is given for the best paper. This program is being continued as part of our MRSEC educational outreach.
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NSF-REU 2003 Summer Research Fellowship
Past REU Programs
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| NSF-REU Student Presentation Schedule 2000 |
Monday, July 31
| Time | Student "Title of Talk" |
Advisor |
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| 4:00 | Michael Biercuk, Physics, Penn | Johnson |
| Creation of a nanotube junction by electron beam irradiation | ||
| 4:10 | Rachel Courtland, Physics, Penn | Yodh |
| Soft applications for rigid rods: playing with carbon nanotube suspensions | ||
| 4:20 | Rita Finones, MSE, U.C. Berkeley | Composto |
| Thin film membranes prepared by controlled phase separation of polymer blends with block copolymer additives | ||
| 4:30 | Judd Flesch, Chem, Penn | Kozlowski |
| Large-scale synthesis of 1,5-Diazadecalin and its derivatives | ||
| 4:40 | Paul FrailChem, St. Michael’s College | Therien |
| The synthesis and spectroscopy of pi-stacked porphyrin donor-acceptor moieties | ||
| 4:50 | Ana Garcia, Biol., Cayey University College | Discher |
| Interactions between macrophage cells and polymer vesicles | ||
Tuesday, August 1
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| 4:00 | Ian Gelfand, MSE, Penn | Johnson |
| Electron Transport in Biological Systems | ||
| 4:10 | Seth Boeshore, Physics, Franklin & Marshall | Fischer |
| Cobalt nanowires encapsulated in multiwall carbon nanotubes | ||
| 4:20 | Elizabeth Young, Chem, Haverford | Gai |
| Laser induced pH jump and electron transfer in cytochrome bc1 complex | ||
| 4:30 | Andrew Levitt, Physics, Univ. of Toronto | Yodh |
| Template directed colloidal crystallization | ||
| 4:40 | Yisette Reyes, Biol., Cayey Univ. College | DeGrado |
| Stabilization of a de novo metalloenzyme | ||
| 4:50 | Kevin Odum, MSE, Penn | Luzzi |
| Electric field induced alignment of nanotubes | ||
Wednesday, August 2
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| 4:00 | Sharlim Perdomo, Physics, Humacao University | Santiago |
| Jet vapor etching of ceramics | ||
| 4:10 | Elliot Reed, Physics, Swarthmore | Collings, Swarthmore |
| Effect of an electric field on the chiral nematic - Isotropic phase transition | ||
| 4:20 | Nathan Martin, Chem, Penn | Rappe |
| A new virtual crystal approximation for oxide solid solutions | ||
| 4:30 | Asenia McMillan, Bio/Chem, Immaculata | McIntosh/Saatman |
| Localization of focal adhesion kinase after traumatic brain injury in rats. | ||
| 4:40 | Jennifer Bartels, Chem, Penn | Kozlowski |
| Synthesis of polycyclic ethers via acid-catalyzed condensation of aldehydes and unsaturated 1,8-diols | ||
| 4:50 | Lucy Muzzy, Chem, Princeton | Bonnell |
| Scanning probe microscopy of barium titanate | ||
| 5:00 | Carolyn Johnson, Physics, Amherst | Bonnell |
| Effects of ferroelectric domains on adsorption on barium titanate | ||
Thursday, August 3
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| 4:00 | David Scales, Chem, Penn | Sneddon |
| Design of inorganic materials for biological application | ||
| 4:10 | Josh Gruber, Physics, Penn | Yodh |
| A study of polymer anisotropy in solution | ||
| 4:20 | Miguel Guzman, Physics, Humacao University | DiNardo, Drexel |
| AFM studies of the polymerization of latex films | ||
| 4:30 | Ines Ellis Guardiola, Chem, Carleton College | DeGrado |
| Helical stability: Isoleucine at an exposed position | ||
| 4:40 | Nakiya Showell, Chem, Bryn Mawr | Winey |
| FTIR determination of the degree of neutralization in PEMMA acid salts | ||
| 4:50 | Roberto Myers, MSE, Penn | Chen |
| Processing and characterization of CMR manganite thin films | ||
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NSF Research Experience for Teachers, 2001
RET/2001
Teachers
left to right Sean Kelly, Rich Guffanti, Gloria Brown, John Pak Lee Sean McGinty |
Five high school science teachers from the Delaware Valley spent six weeks working in the research groups of MRSEC-affiliated faculty working on a specific research project. The teachers were assimilated into the research groups and undertook all the duties of a graduate student. During the final week of the program each teacher presented his/her research results both orally and in a research paper. The oral presentations were videotaped and copies given to all teachers for use in their high school class. The teachers were educated in materials science through attendance at a short, four lecture, course on x-ray diffraction and by attending REU and PSSI lectures given by LRSM faculty. Teachers also toured the shared experimental facilities of the LRSM.
The teachers, faculty, and research topics for 2001 were;
Gloria R. Brown, Abingdon High School chemistry teacher worked with Prof. Hai-lung Dai, Chemistry, on 'Production and identification of the OCCN radical'Richard Guffanti, Fels High School physics teacher worked with Prof. David Luzzi, MSE, on 'Filling carbon nanotubes'
Sean McGinty, Bucks County Technical High School science teacher worked with Prof. I-Wei Chen, MSE ,on 'Seeded growth of silica particles'
Sean Kelly, Germantown Academy chemistry teacher worked with Prof. Jack Fischer, MSE, on 'The effect of HNO3 doping on single-walled carbon nanotubes'
John Pak Lee, Masterman High School physics teacher worked with
Prof. Alan T.'Charlie' Johnson, Physics, on 'Using AFM to study
carbon nanotubes'
New PENN Program for Teachers:
Master of Chemistry Education
The department of Chemistry in conjunction with the Graduate School of Education
at PENN has established a new 10 course Masters program called 'Master of
Chemistry Education'. This program is totally funded by PENN, NSF and local
industry to cover all tuition beyond a school district's Tuition Reimbursement
Plan. The course takes place over three summers plus selected Saturdays
during the two academic years in between. The program will start in summer
2000.
PENN MRSEC's RET, REU, and other education resources will provide enrichment opportunities for the teachers participating in this program.
For further information go to www.sas.upenn.edu/chem/MCE/
Summer Course in Materials Science for High School Students
Penn Summer Science Initiative 2003
The Penn Summer Science Initiative, PSSI, is sponsored by the Penn Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, MRSEC, which is funded by the National Science Foundation. It will accept up to 24 high school juniors from the Delaware Valley for a four-week lecture/lab. course in materials science from July 7-August 1, 2002. The course will run from 10:00 am to 3:30pm daily in the Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter, LRSM, building. The course will consist of a formal lecture on materials science every morning followed either by a computer instruction laboratory or a discussion group on issues in science. Monday afternoons will be spent visiting local industrial laboratories. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons will be devoted to experimental laboratory work in which the student will be exposed to a variety of materials characterization techniques e.g. scanning electron, atomic force and optical microscopies, thermal analysis techniques, mechanical testing, and x-ray diffraction. Friday mornings will be spent visiting some of Penn's major facilities e.g. Regional Laser Lab., Robotics Center, Ion Scattering Laboratory, Museum Applied Science Center for Archeology, etc. and Friday afternoons will be spent writing group lab reports. This program will be taught by Penn faculty and staff who are associated with the LRSM and by teaching fellows in the Penn NSF-Access program.Students will be selected for this program based on their scholastic achievements, curriculum vitae, and teachers' letters of recommendation. Students must have taken chemistry and/or physics courses. Minority and female students are especially encouraged to apply. This student enrichment course is free. Any student wishing to apply to this program should fill out the On-Line Application Form. Subsequently a CV, school transcript, and two letters of recommendation from current or former teachers should be sent to:
Dr. Andrew R. McGhie
Associate Director
Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter
University of Pennsylvania
3231 Walnut St. Philadelphia PA 19104-6202
Further information or questions should be sent to mcghie@lrsm.upenn.edu or (215) 898-6461
The deadline for applications is April 15, 2003
Penn Summer Science Initiative
2002
 PSSI Students 2002 Back row: Hui Ying Wen, Betsy Lau, Mike Morgan, Daniel Yao, Andrew Choe, John Riley 4th row: Mark Curtis, Joan Xu , David Kreisman, Conor Lenahan, Tom Frame 3rd row: Chetra Yean, Lisa McClain, Laura Panko, Palek Sheth 2nd row: Nardine Zakhary, Diana McLain, Jennifer Louie, Lauren Bradley, Alice Hon Front row: Brittany Gonzalez, Julie Miller, Kim Lao |
The Penn Summer Science Initiative, PSSI, program for 2002 enrolled 24 high school students from the Delaware Valley of whom 23 completed the course. The class consisted of 80% public and 20% private and parochial school students. 16% of the students were minorities and 54% were females.
A series of 15 lectures covering the major classes of materials were given by seven faculty members and two guest lecturers and was highlighted by a lecture on Synthetic Metals by Prof. Alan MacDiarmid, the 2000 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry. A series of four experimental labs, each requiring three afternoon sessions, were organized by Prof. Charles Graham, MSE, and each was supervised by graduate students supported by the Penn MRSEC. The services of five staff members of the LRSM were also used. Each student was require to write up a lab report after every lab for the first three weeks and these were evaluated and returned to the student. After the lab on the fourth and last week, the students in the three lab groups made joint oral presentations of their labs prior to the conclusion of the program and the awarding of certificates of participation. The program was enriched by field trips to the Franklin Institute, TA Instruments (manufacturer of thermal analysis equipment), Hoeganaes Corporation (powder metallurgy), and the Mutter Museum, in addition to many Penn research facilities.
This program differed from previous PSSA programs run in conjunction with the College of General Studies, which started in 1996, in that it was restricted to commuters and was free to all students with emphasis being placed on attracting local public school students.
Evaluation of the program by the students gave an overall rating of 4.0/.
The experimental labs were well received with a score of 4.3/5 as were
the lectures at 4.1/5. Strengths and weakness of the program were evaluated
and adjustments will be made for the program in 2003.
Prior Summer programs for High School Students
 Prof. Graham demonstrating optical microscopy with an 8-viewer microscope. |
 A visit to the polymerization scale-up laboratory at DuPont. |
motoole@sas.upenn.edu
 PSSA Students 2000 front row, Jason Kressel, Scott Heinz, Amy Drakeman, middle row, Joanne Cohen, Nathan Venskytis, Andy Wen, Mike Lin, Will Andress, Eric Baker, back row, Mike Sheehan, Matt Ligon, Kent Lau, Chris Low, and Sean Bard |
Enrichment Course for High School Science Teachers
 Prof. Gorte lecturing to teachers about ceramics. |
Program for 2002/2003
Program for 2001/2002
Telepresence in High Schools
 Video conference to Philadelphia classrooms via cable TV. This presentation given by Professor Dennis Discher - "Blood Cells, Biological and Artificial". |
- Introduction (400kb)
- Picture in Picture (688kb)
- Yeast cell engulfed by white cell (2,330kb)
View some short video exerpts from the "Blood Cells, Biological
and Artificial" broadcast:
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CIRE Program with the University of Puerto Rico
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 UPR students and faculty in the SPM lab at PENN, Summer '99 |
 Hands-on chemistry, Summer '99 |
 Faculty interaction, Summer '99 |
* the CIRE program at Humacao has set up their own web site: "PUMP"
(PENN-UPR Materials Program)
The 14 students participating in CIRE research. Taken during the NSF
site visit to Humacao, PR, December, 1999.
(photo credit - U. Strom)
Annual PENN-UPR CIRE Scientific Meeting 2000
 Prof. MacDiarmid with local high school teachers from Humacao who each brought 15 students to his lecture. |
 Prof. MacDiarmid talking to high school students after his lecture. |
 Headlines in newspaper covering eastern Puerto Rico |
Materials Science Summer Institute, MASSI
The 1998 MASSI on "Complex Fluid Materials" was held at Georgian Court College from July 27-31, 1998.
Co-directors are Prof. William.B. Russel, Princeton and Prof. David.A. Weitz, PENN.
Details
of the program can be obtained from the PMI/MASSI website.
Lecture presentations can be found on the MASSI Program Online.
A Summer School on selected topics in materials science has been organized in collaboration with the Princeton Materials Institute and the materials research group at Rutgers University. The goal of the Summer Institute is to provide continuing education and focused discussion on selected forefront technological or scientific subjects in materials science for researchers in industry and national laboratories, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, and teachers from non-research-oriented colleges.
The organizing committee, consisting of Hai-Lung Dai (Penn), Theodore Madey (Rutgers), Giacinto Scoles (Princeton, chair), and Susan (Princeton, secretary). Funding for the MASSIs come primarily from NSF, industry, and the three Universities.
The first school on 'Intelligent Manufacturing of Nanostructured Ceramics' was led by Prof. Lisa Klein, Rutgers University, and was held at Georgian Court College from June 2-12, 1996 with approximately 30 attendees.
The Eli Burstein Lecture in Materials Science
This distinguished lectureship was established in 1993 and named for Professor Emeritus Eli Burstein, Physics. The lecturer, a world-renowned scientist, spends up to a week at Penn during which time he/she presents three formal lectures and interacts with faculty and students throughout the rest of the week. Some of the Burstein lecturers have been, Dr. Michele Parrinello, IBM, Zurich, Prof. Erio Tosatti, University of Trieste, Prof. Yuen-Ron Shen, from the University of California, Berkeley and Prof. Erich Sackmann, Technische Universitat, Munchen. To view a list of past speakers, and their talk titles, as well as the most recent lecture, visit the Eli Burstein Lecture page.
The Robert Maddin Lecture in Materials Science
A second distinguished lectureship in materials science was initiated in 1995 and named for Professor Robert Maddin, former Professor of Materials Science at the University and co-founder of the LRSM. The first Maddin lecturer was Prof. David Pettifor, University of Oxford. In the years that followed, many more distinguished speakers have presented. To view a list of them, as well as the most recent speaker, visit the Robert Maddin Lecture page.
Workshop on Advanced Techniques for Materials Characterization
Following the inaugural workshop held in November 1993, the sixth annual two-day Workshop on Advanced Techniques for Materials Characterization held on April 15/16, 1999. Eight LRSM-affiliated faculty presented a comprehensive course that covered the following techniques: STM, AFM, Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy, Electron Spectroscopy, High Energy Ion Scattering, Scanning Auger Spectroscopy, SIMS, XRS, Laser-based Techniques, and NMR. Applications in the area of surfaces, interfaces and thin films was emphasized and the course included demonstrations of many the above techniques, almost all of which are available through our Shared Experimental Facilities. On average, 20-30 industrial and university personnel have attended these workshops. The Seventh Annual Workshop will be held April 14/15, 2000 and an on-line registration is available.