For the first time since the MSE department began inviting rising high school juniors and seniors to find out firsthand what a career in materials science is all about, the department and the NC State College of Engineering will offer two weeklong sessions of the popular Materials Camp outreach program this summer.
The 32 expected participants—16 for each session—would be more than double number attending last year’s single session. The first session will be June 13-18, and the second, June 20-25. During their stay, campers will observe the department’s cutting-edge materials research, get hands-on experience using electron microscopes and other sophisticated analytical equipment and tour our research labs as well as at least one working lab off campus. After hours, there will be plenty of time to socialize and have fun (“broomball,” akin to ice hockey but played without skates, is a particular camper favorite).
Campers will also observe the effect of a 10-story plunge on a giant ball of Silly Putty when camp staffers drop 50 pounds of the silicone polymer from the roof of NC State’s D.H. Hill Library.
On the final day, campers will test the knowledge they’ve absorbed by playing a materials-oriented Jeopardy! game. (Sample answer: “This occurs when grocery bags and nylon are stretched.” The correct response: “What is alignment of polymer chains?”)
In addition to the MSE department and the College of Engineering, Materials Camp sponsors include ASM International: the Materials Information Society, NC State’s Analytical Instrumentation Facility as well as a number of generous corporate sponsors.
If you are now a high school sophomore or junior and are interested in attending one of the Materials Camp sessions this summer, you must submit your application before April 2. Find out about the application process and further information about the College of Engineering summer programs here:
http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/theengineeringplace/summerprograms/high-school/