In connection with our partnership with the DoD Army Research Laboratories, on Friday,
April 16, 2004, MWM curriculum content developers Matthew Hsu and Jennifer Cocson kicked
off an introductory workshop with Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) in Aberdeen, MD. After
a welcome by Dr. Bruce Fink, Chief (A), Materials Division Weapons & Materials
Research Directorate, and self-introductions, Matthew began with an overview of the
Program philosophy. This was followed by a break-out session where groups could experience
and be engaged in different hands-on activities. The enthusiastic 25+ participants
were divided into five groups, each with a mix of APG scientists and engineers and
area high school and middle school teachers. Then each group was allowed to choose
one activity to do, either Biosensors, Composites, Smart Sensors, Sports Materials,
or Concrete. After about 30 minutes of making predictions about the results of their
individual experiments, conducting their experiments, collecting data, drawing conclusions,
and suggesting applications for design or further research, the groups presented their
findings to the "class" in turn. This was a great opportunity for everyone
to learn more about the variety of module topics available from MWM. Interspersed were
video clips showing overviews of the modules. These videos are also available in the
Video Gallery on this web site. The
remainder of the workshop focused more in-depth on the concepts and experimental procedures
of the Biodegradable Materials Module in the morning and the Sports Materials Module
in the afternoon. Matthew wrapped up the day by showing participants information on
the impact of MWM nationwide and around the world, feedback from the online modules
field test, and alignment with standards. Special thanks to APG for lunch, refreshments,
and their warm hospitality, especially to Dr. Fink for providing this opportunity at
Aberdeen, as well as the pictures, and to Dr. Rose Ann Pesce-Rodriguez and Dr. Rob
Lieb for their efforts in coordinating the event. Many thanks also to our partners
for their attendance at and participation in our workshop: Mr. John Yochelson, president
of Building Engineering and Science Talent (BEST) in San Diego, CA; Mr. Ray Pawlicki,
Research Program Director for the Department of Defense Ordnance Technology Center
(DOTC) at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey; and Ms. Kathi Donoghue, Program Administrator
of the DOTC.
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On Monday, February 9, 2004, MWM hosted another Northwestern University (NU) campus visit
from our partners in the Army. This was a strategic meeting about how to use MWM in their
outreach efforts and to plan their budget accordingly. The Army will coordinate with
their other corporate outreach programs and with scientists and engineers at Picatinny
Arsenal (Morris County, NJ), in order to spread the MWM Program into the New Jersey schools.
Dr. Vallen Emery, the Outreach Program Manager for the Army; Dr. Joseph Lannon, Senior
Technical Executive for the Armaments Engineering and Technology Center, at Picatinny
Arsenal; Mr. Ray Pawlicki, Research Program Director for the Department of Defense Ordnance
Technology Center (DOTC), also at Picatinny Arsenal; and Ms. Kathi Donoghue, Program
Administrator of the DOTC; as well as MWM Program Director Prof. R.P.H. Chang and MWM
content developers Matthew Hsu and Jennifer Cocson; were in attendance. Matthew's PowerPoint
overview of the MWM Program and preliminary field test data in the morning was followed
by discussion, which lasted through lunch. After lunch, Prof. Chang and the Army guests
met with Dean John Birge, Dean of NU's Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and
Applied Science. MWM then hosted a tour of some of NU's laboratory facilities, including
the Electron Probe Instrumentation Center (EPIC) and the Three-Dimensional Atom Probe
(3DAP) Facility. The day was concluded with a brief demonstration of the Properties of
Light Module, which illustrated the cognitive build and "Inquiry Through Design" concept
inherent in all MWM modules. Thanks to Ray Pawlicki and Kathi Donoghue who coordinated
the visit. |
