NU-MRSEC seeks to revitalize interest in science and engineering by providing educational programs for pre-college students, undergraduates, underrepresented minorities, and graduate students, as well as high school teachers and community college professors.

At the undergraduate level, the Center offers a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program over a 9-week period each summer. During the program, students conduct cutting-edge experimental or theoretical research with the Center's distinguished faculty. The students live together in on-campus housing to foster networking and social interactions.

The Center offers an Undergraduate Research Internship program in which undergraduates conduct research part time during the academic year. The program is open to Northwestern undergraduate students majoring in science or engineering disciplines who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

The Center also provides a summer Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program for middle school, high school, and community college science teachers. During the 8-week program, participating teachers engage in research as well as develop ways to bring their experience back to their classrooms.

The Center collaborates with the Chute Middle School in Evanston on a program called CHANSE. Northwestern students and postdoctoral associates organize and hold weekly after-school interactive sessions to introduce materials science to 6th-8th graders. We are looking for volunteers to lead these sessions.

The Center also hosts a few school groups during the academic year for laboratory tours. A collaboration with the Center for Talent Development has led to the development of a "Materials and Engineering Design Honors" class for middle school and high school students.

We are always looking for new opportunities to share our excitement about science with students, teachers, research colleagues in the U.S. and abroad and with the general public. If you have suggestions for a collaboration, please don't hesitate to contact us.