Outreach & Education
Beyond catalyzing the institutional research transformation (i.e. publications, patents, industry projects, student internships), PREM will also provide opportunities to develop research and education infrastructure synergistically under a well-proven plan to integrate diversity.
Educational & Outreach Goals
- Increase URM participation in MS&E (research/outreach, NEURONS and UMN’s Materials Week)
- Offer an integrated-holistic experience to PREM participants, and overall UTRGV students (Financial literacy, ethics, communication skills, and overall professional development)
- Partner w/UTRGV College Assistance Migrant Program (assists migratory or seasonal farmworkers students)
- Strengthen interaction with UMN (REU, UMN students to conduct research at UTRGV, co-chairing of MS thesis, overall guidance as the PhD in MS&E develops)
- Contribute to the growth of UTRGV’s research enterprise to support the Carnegie classification to an R2
Education and Outreach at UMN
- Three or more UTRGV UG students will participate in the summer REU program at UMN each year.
- UTRGV graduate students will also travel to UMN either through the faculty-student program or short stays for materials characterization.
- A joint annual symposium will be developed with the site alternating between campuses. Students will give poster/oral presentations.
- UMN will continue to invite UTRGV faculty and students to their Annual Meetings of their large Industrial Consortium, IPRIME.
- UMN will also sponsor one teacher per year from UTRGV’s district through the MRSEC’s RET program.
To learn more about facilities and outreach programs at the University of Minnesota Materials Research Science & Engineering Center (MRSEC), visit http://mrsec.umn.edu/ehr
Energy & U
Energy & U is a live show that melds the excitement of chemical demonstrations and the natural connection between energy and STEM education into a fully produced, on-stage science extravaganza. The show has a running theme of introverting different forms of energy, often in dramatic fashion, while emphasizing that you cannot create or destroy energy, only transform it (the First Law of Thermodynamics). The implications of this Law on our global energy supply are discussed and energy conversions are showcased that are as large-scale and memorable as possible. There are numerous explosions, bright flashes, and music that get the kids (and adults) dancing.
Energy & U is a result of PREM efforts and the efforts to migrate the show to South Texas are now funded by NSF, Division of Research on Learning AISL #1906885.
View the Spanish version of the Energy & U Show Trailer on YouTube
Funded by the National Science Foundation through the University of Minnesota (UMN) Partnership for Research and Education in Materials Science (PREM): University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) award DMR-2122178.