About

About The NSF National Resource Center

The National Resource Center for Materials Technology Education (MatEd) is headquartered at Edmonds CC. Funded by the National Science Foundation, MatEd is creating a national network of industry and educational professionals to increase the number and diversity of highly skilled technicians ready for employment.

Resources

The Resource Center provides curriculum resources for materials technology program enhancement and improvement at community and technical colleges nationwide. MatEd and EdCC collaborated to develop an 11,000sqft advanced technology lab which houses the only two year materials science degree in Washington state.

Goals

• Website for a permanent repository for materials science curriculum
• Collect teaching materials for faculty use in technician education
• Creating professional development opportunities for instructors
• Sustainable information dissemination

Impact Highlights

• Partnering with eleven higher educational institutions nationally to assist in educating thousands in materials science
• Website database is expanding rapidly to include over 400 materials science labs, modules and papers
• Developing instructional and professional workshops in materials science, including the S.T.A.R. Corps program
• Collaborating with NSF Centers and ATE projects to create a national materials science presence
• Working with industry representatives to initiate and incorporate advanced study programs that meet stakeholder needs
• Supporting local, regional and national outreach, highlighting the need for materials science curriculum and trained technicians

What is MatEd?

The National Resource Center for Materials Technology Education (MatEd) is an NSF funded resource center focused on materials science. A key goal of the center was to identify and validate core competencies needed by materials technicians and general technicians. A complete report as well as a summary can be found on the MatEd website.

MatEd’s Mission is to advance materials technology education nationally. MatEd’s Vision is to be the focal point where industry, education and community collaborate to meet materials technology workforce needs.

What is Materials Science?

Often called the science of “stuff,” materials science is the study of materials and the processes used to create and apply them to a vast variety of uses. Integral to manufacturing and engineering, materials science explores what products could be made of to be stronger, lighter, more efficient and less expensive.

Where is MatEd located?

MatEd is located in Monroe Hall at Edmonds Community College in Lynnwood, WA (40 minutes north of Seattle). Monroe Hall is an 11,000 square foot state of the art facility that is dedicated to materials science.

How does the center disseminate information?

MatEd utilizes various methods of dissemination that include presentations and workshops locally, regionally and nationally and publications, journal articles, website, etc.

What is the website URL?

www.materialseducation.org

What kind of resources are on the website?

MatEd offers classroom ready modules of labs and demos for use by educators, industry and the general public. The website also contains general information and FAQ’s about MatEd and a section titled “Ask Dr. MST”. Ask Dr. MST is a question and answer option which is supported by subject matter experts specializing in various materials and processes.

How do I contact the center staff?

Contact information can be found on the website under the button “Contact Us” or by clicking on the MatEd Team button that is listed on the left hand side of the home page.