Kindergarten-Grade 12 (K-12) Program @ University of Pennsylvania
Girard Science Camp 2011
The first edition of the Penn-Girard Science Camp will work with 7th graders between the 6th and 10th of June 2011. The camp will be conducted by two Graduate Students, two Girard Science Teachers, one UPenn Faculty, and Education Directors. The objective of the camp is to expand the frontiers of STEM comfort-levels amongst 7th graders and enable them to become engaged in the pursuit of science. More specifically, objectives of the camp are of educational, affectional, and factual nature.
We have worked with a local high school teacher, Schuyler Patton, to prepare a year-long materials science senior elective course at Central High School. This course is now given in two sections to a total of 66 students each year.
Philly Materials Science and Engineering Day
The 
Penn-MRSEC joined with Drexel Materials Science and Engineering, Penn Materials Science and Engineering, Penn’s Nano/Bio Center, and WHYY to organize a Philly Materials Science and Engineering Day for the general public on Saturday, February 5, 2011. The event was supported by a small grant from the science program NOVA and coordinated by Dorilona Rose, Drexel MSE. It took place at Drexel’s Bossone Research Center and consisted of materials demonstrations by graduate students of both institutions, several industrial companies, and one high school, Central HS, which has established a senior year materials science elective course. In addition, general lectures were given by Penn and Drexel faculty along with an industrial talk by Dr. Ken Pye, Lignol Innovations Inc. Grand Hank, host of the Philadelphia school system’s cable TV program,’The Science of Philadelphia’ presented chemistry demonstrations called ‘Hip Hop Science’ and Bill Berner, Penn Physics, presented demos on ‘ Why is a volcano like a cloud?’ The event exceeded all expectations with ~800-1000 in attendance, most of whom were K-12 students. It was enjoyed by both attendees and presenters to such an extent that it will be repeated next year.
Pennsylvania Summer Science Initiative
Penn's MRSEC offers a four-week summer course for high school science students from the Delaware Valley. Begun in 1996, the course includes lectures in materials science by affiliated MRSEC faculty, a daily computer lab, week-long experimental labs on metals, ceramics, polymers and semiconductors that include use of our shared experimental facilities, and weekly visits to both industrial and university facilities. This program is offered free to students.
Science of Philadelphia TV program
We collaborate with the School District of Philadelphia to present materials-based programs on their Science of Philadelphia TV show on local cable channel 52 and have given 18 such programs since 1998. We also collaborate with the Penn MAGPI group who interact with hundreds of schools across the country to present hour-long, materials based programs for middle and high schools through Internet 2. These programs are interactive with up to five high schools simultaneously.
In School Participation
In recent years, several of our faculty members from the departments of Physics and MSE have visited local high schools to participate in classroom activities.
