Education Outreach

Note: The University of Maryland MRSEC grant ended in September 2013 after a 17-year run of research and education success. Currently, most education programs are not active, but have been left online as a record of our history. We look forward to developing new opportunities for outreach and appreciate your patience during these transition years!

Education Outreach Mission

The UMD-MRSEC’s commitment to excellence in science and engineering is driven by their mission to 1) create bridges between professionally-trained scientists, and professionally-trained educators to improve inquiry-based science teaching, 2) raise the quality of K-12 science and engineering education programs, 3) enlarge the pool of students who become our future scientists, 4) advance participation of groups traditionally underrepresented in science, and 5) increase public interest in, and awareness of scientific concepts and new technologies.

Follow our most current education outreach news on our Facebook Page!

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A key motivation of the UMD-MRSEC program is to create an expanding impact by teaching undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-docs effective skills in education outreach at the pre-college level. The UMD-MRSEC uses a successful service-learning approach, in which MRSEC research personnel receive outreach training and contribute service hours to education programs. This structure allows the UMD-MRSEC to effectively meet NSF goals, unite researchers from different IRGs and seeds, and effectively provide the community with needed role models, mentors, and expertise in science and engineering.

For contact information, please see the directory

Upcoming events are listed on the MRSEC Calendar

NanoFabulous Exhibit

In 2011, building on its long-standing partnership with the Port Discovery Children's Museum, the UMD MRSEC began development of a museum exhibit designed to bring understanding of and excitement about nanotechnology to children. The NanoFabulous exhibit opened in April 2012. Read more about this exciting partnership and project!