November 2, 2006

With Department of Defense grant, Materials World Modules go national

By Megan Fellman

The Department of Defense has awarded Northwestern a three-year, $6.9 million grant to create a national center for the University’s Materials World Modules (MWM) program, a highly touted educational effort that introduces materials science topics to students in grades 7-12.

Materials science is the study of the characteristics and uses of various materials, such as metals, ceramics and plastics, that are employed in science and technology.

The MWM program, supported by the National Science Foundation since 1994, offers inquiry and design-based learning modules with many different topics, including sports materials, smart sensors and food packaging. Developed in close collaboration with science teachers, the modules have been used by more than 35,000 students across the country, supplementing existing science, technology, engineering and mathematics curricula.

The new center, under the direction of Robert P.H. Chang, professor of materials science and engineering, will expand this existing program. The first priority is to establish a MWM network to systematically disseminate modules to all middle and high schools in each of three states — New Jersey, Maryland and New Mexico — and to reach more than 150,000 students during the next several years. MWM state centers are being established in each of these states to link with the national center at Northwestern, forming a national network. 

“Technology is progressing at a rapid pace worldwide, but fewer American students are pursuing careers in science and engineering,” said Chang, who created the MWM program. “We hope to spark students’ interest in these fields by providing hands-on learning tools that encourage them to ask questions and design new products using what they’ve learned.”