Education & Outreach
Mission & Goals
Mission. The mission of the I-MRSEC Education & Outreach program is to support the interdisciplinary education and training of students in materials design, understanding, and application, and to connect the Center’s fundamental materials research to classrooms, campus, and community across Illinois.
Goals. We aim to broaden participation in materials science at every stage of the pipeline — from K-12 classrooms through undergraduate, graduate, and professional training; to build a cadre of effective science communicators who enable the public to better assess and appreciate scientific results; and to strengthen connections between academia, industry, and the national laboratories through workshops, internships, and mentoring.
Want to be part of our amazing volunteer group? Please send an email to mrsec-info@illinois.edu.
K-12
I-MRSEC Creative Materials Program
The I-MRSEC has an annual outreach program at local pubic middle school Franklin STEAM Academy.
MRL Field Trip Day
STEM Saturdays with Principal's Scholars Program for 9-12 grade
Come and learn about the relevance of light and how its properties are particularly important in materials science and engineering, electronics, and computing. Use knowledge about light's reflection, refraction, and absorption to design and program a laser light show, and to construct and test a solar cell.
Consulting with COMPASS
COMPASS, the NSF Center for Complex Particle Systems, connects high-school students with faculty and graduate mentors nationwide for free one-on-one consulting on science projects over Zoom. I-MRSEC faculty are welcome to take part as mentors.
We developed a special kit that helps middle-school students learn about applications of magnetism and the physics of sound by building their own speakers.
Undergraduate
Graduate
Graduate Student Symposium Practice
This event allows students to present their research to peers, postdocs, and faculty, receive constructive feedback, and strengthen their communication skills in preparation for presenting their work to a broader scientific audience such as the Materials Research Society (MRS) and American Physical Society (APS) conferences.
Industry & Entrepreneur Training
I-MRSEC is teaming up with the Office of Technology Management and Center for Entrepreneurship to offer two interactive industry and entrepreneur training workshops which designed to help researcher turn discoveries into real-world solutions.
Professional Development
Individual Development Plan (IDP)
Develop and maintain an IDP to guide your professional growth. Participants meet with the Outreach Coordinator twice annually and their PI at least once annually to review goals and progress.
Career Workshops & Panels
The Real Talk Series connect with faculty, national labs, alumni, industry leaders, and professionals through engaging conversations designed to help you navigate careers and build your future.
Mentoring & Leadership
Building mentoring and leadership skills through training and practice that support effective communication, collaboration, and professional growth.
Community & Public Outreach
Engineering Open House
Annual Franklin Block Party
There were hundreds of students and families stopped by our exhibit.
State Farm Center: Field Trip Day- Illinois' Women Basketball
Urbana Free Library: Jump into Science
New to I-MRSEC! The pilot program is on 10/24, 2026. Calling all science lovers! Come and learn about science with the Illinois Materials Research Science and Engineering Center.