9706631 Giedd The objective of this education program is to enhance the Master's Degree in Materials Science at Southwest Missouri State University. It is a response to the new requirements articulated by industries and by government to reinvent education for the challenges of a highly competitive, world wide economy. The mission is to educate individuals so that they can efficiently perform the tasks which make companies competitive in a rapidly changing high-technology world. This program will facilitate the process of collaboration with the materials manufacturing industries in our region. The students are provided experiences in using complex industrial equipment and techniques in order to minimize the change between academic preparation and industrial employment. Workshops are planned for employers on computer instrumentation and control systems needed for industrial modernization. The majority of the student body at Southwest Missouri State University consists of first generation college students who will benefit greatly from this applied approach to education, where high technology skills will be added to their core theoretical knowledge. Most of these students have a strong desire to witness theory applied to "real world" applications. The graduates will have the ability to work in the commercial and industrial laboratories which require practical experience in high-tech materials synthesis, preparation and characterization. This education grant is funded through the MPS Office of Multidisciplinary Activities and the Division of Materials Research. %%% This grant promotes novel opportunities for students to prepare for academic, industrial, government and non- traditional roles (such as communication, business, leadership, ethics, mentoring) and assists in integration of research and training with curricula. ***
