Howard University proposes the establishment of a Materials Science Research Center of Excellence, located in its School of Engineering. This Center will conduct research on the growth, characterization and processing of electronic and electro-optic materials, a current research strength of Howard University. A second objective of the proposal is to provide a variety of activities to introduce young minority men and women and their teachers in the Middle-Atlantic region to career opportunities in science and engineering. A third objective is for the Center to become a recognized center of excellence in research over the five-year course of the program. This project meets the major goal of the Minority Research Centers of Excellence (MRCE) program: to increase the minority presence in science and engineering by making substantial resources available to upgrade the research capabilities of strong and productive minority institutions. The project will at the same time enable this institution to use research as a tool to increase the effectiveness of related science and engineering activities for minority groups in its region. In addition, the project will provide opportunities for minority faculty and students at Howard and nearby institutions to engage in meritorious research that leads to publications in refereed journals.
