About the Materials Education Symposia
The
Symposia philosophy
Materials and materials education have played an enormous part in the technology advances of the 20th century. Emerging structural, functional, and bio-materials are poised to play an even larger part in the technology of the 21st century. Almost all the "Grand Challenges" identified as the essential technological and social advances for the next three decades have a material dimension. The part materials play in global and national economics and security is, today, so important that governments list the materials they perceive as "critical" and seek to assure access and to identify substitutes or alternatives should their supply chain be disrupted. For these (and many other) reasons, the education of materials-literate engineers and of informed and innovative materials scientists is essential for economic development and growth.
- To share ideas, innovations, experiences, successes and failures;
- To provoke productive discussion around these issues
- To expand the links that form such a key feature of the Materials Community.
The symposia foster an atmosphere of community amongst educators involved in teaching undergraduate materials science across disciplines including engineering, design, and science.
What are the Materials Education Symposia?
What started as simple group discussions of materials educators in 2009, it evolved as these unique 2-day symposia, preceded by educational workshops. The symposia events are now spread worldwide: International Materials Education Symposium or IMES in spring, North American Materials Education Symposium in summer and Asian Materials Education Symposium in winter. The events are now firmly established in the calendar as a leading venue for the university-level materials education community to come together to discuss ideas, tools, and best practices relating to the teaching of materials across engineering, design, science and sustainability. These events are coordinated by: Ansys, the global leader in engineering simulation; the Symposia Academic Advisory Committee; and educators at: Carnegie Mellon University, University of Cambridge, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, University of Michigan, National University of Singapore, SUTD, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and many others. The organizers are grateful for support and help from ASM International, FEMS, IFEES, the Materials Division of ASEE, SEFI and TMS.
What's included?
- A packed speaker program from a panel selected by the Symposium Scientific Committee; talks cover a wide range of topics related to the teaching of materials in: materials science, manufacturing and processes, mechanical engineering, industrial design, aerospace and nuclear engineering, bio engineering, plastics, and sustainable engineering
- Interactive discussion sessions
- Networking over lunches and the Symposium Dinner
- Two days of poster sessions, with 'Poster Teasers' sessions allowing presenters to briefly introduce their work in the main lecture theater
- Other activities including an invitation only Presenters' dinner, materials education workshops and development meetings.