What is our logo?
Our MRSEC logo shows the arrangement of atoms at the surface of a crystal. Crystals are made up of layers, or "planes" of atoms, perfectly stacked in an ordered pattern. Because this surface has been cut at a slight angle to the crystal planes, it appears "stepped" (we call this type of surface a vicinal surface). Modern scanned-probe microscopes, such as the STM, allow us to see the atoms at the surface of a crystal, producing images very similar to this one.

University of Maryland

Materials Research Science and Engineering Center

Professional Development Workshops for Teachers

The MRSEC established professional development workshops in 1999. The goals of these workshops are for teachers to strengthen content knowledge, incorporate research-based activities into the classroom, integrate advanced technology into lesson plans, and establish sustainable resources. Teachers are provided with hands-on materials, demonstrations, and a presentation by a master teacher and/or researcher. Important for effective curriculum integration the workshops include county, state, and national standards. Topics include: physics, materials science, superconductivity, and nanoscience.

More information about one of MRSEC's teacher workshops, The Science of Spying, is available on our page of International Spy Museum partnership programs.