Meeting New Challenges: Advanced Materials Aid the Army's ...

DEMANDS AND REQUIREMENTS OF MATERIALSFOR THE CURRENT AND FUTURE FORCEThe revolutionary demands of the Future Force will requiretailor-made materials (materials by design), multifunctionalmaterials, biomimetic and biologically-inspired materials,nanostructured materials, hybrid materials, coatings and ultralight structures. When compared to existing materials, thesenew materials should show major performance improvementsat the same or significantly reduced weight, and must alsomeet safety and environmental requirements. Research todescribe and characterize the fundamental physics andmechanics of damage and failure, especially in dynamicenvironments unique to the Army will also be critical. Inaddition, requirements for cost reduction and reliabilityto “Chemistry of Crime” (Forensic Science), along with a variety of other experiments. The kids always get a hand-out thatincludes take-home experiments. None of the chemicals involved require ventilation (therefore making them safe to work withat libraries and schools). Both programs have National Chemistry Week activities and work with approximately a thousandkids annually.In the Fall of 2002, the US Army initiated a nationwide “electronic science fair” called eCybermission. eCybermission isan on-line competition for students in 6th through 9th grades. Students form teams of 3-4 students and have a teamadvisor. The team members pick a real-life problem that applies to one of the four science, math, and technology challengeareas: Sports and Recreation, Arts and Entertainment, Environment, or Health and Safety. Then the challenge is for thestudents to develop a solution to the problem using science, math, and technology while having a positive impact on thecommunity. All projects are submitted and judged on-line. There are regional and national awards given out. For the 2003-2004 competition, there were over 1,600 projects submitted for evaluation, involving almost 6,000 students nationwide!A new initiative that has started within the last two years at a few Army S&T labs is regional outreach directly at schoolsthrough the Materials World Modules (MWM) Program. MWM is an inquiry-based science and technology program developedat Northwestern University with funding from the National Science Foundation. The MWM program was designed toserve as a resource for teachers to help them to excite their students about materials science and the world we live in. Rolloutof the program by the Army was begun in 2003 by a team at Picatinny Arsenal. The Army Research Lab joined the effort in2004, and currently several dozen schools are involved. The Army program offers schools one free MWM kit per year (kitsinclude supplies for various experiments, as well as teacher and student manuals), along with support from the Army S&Tstaff. Schools may choose to have a researcher come to their school and work with students as they perform exploratory experimentsand/or the design phase of the module, or they may prefer to have a researcher support the schools in the role as guestlecturers on specific topics. The MWM kits focus on topics in materials science, and include biodegradable materials, biosensors,composites, ceramics, concrete, food packaging, polymers, smart sensors, and sports materials. The modules emphasizeactive, hands-on learning and provide students of all ability levels with opportunities to apply what they learn in the classroomto real-world problems.The challenge of engaging adults in science is a daunting task. The key is to engage students before they decide that science,math and technology are either too hard for them to master or not relevant to their lives. The sciences typically involve asignificant amount of non-trivial in-class and laboratory work. If the interest of students can be piqued at a young age, theywill be more excited about learning necessary basics of science and math and more motivated about moving on to advancedlevels of learning and discovery. In order for this to happen, it is essential that young students be exposed to real-world applicationsof materials science (versus just facts in textbooks). It is important for them to realize that science is all around them,and essential for them to have role models and mentors in their lives that will open up the world of science and technology tothem. The Army is striving to help schools fulfill these needs and thereby foster the development of the S&T’s of tomorrow.FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE SEE:Kids & Chemistry Program – http://www.ecbc.army.mil/about/kids&chemistry/index.htmScience-in-the-Library program – http://mdchem.org/citl/citl_maineCybermission – http://eCybermission.comMaterials World Modules – http://www.materialsworldmodules.orgACKNOWLEDGMENTThe MWM Program was made possible through the leadership of the late Dr. John H. Hopps, Jr., Deputy Undersecretary ofDefense for Laboratories and Basic Sciences.REFERENCES[1] Science and Engineering Indicators 2004, National Science Board, National Science Foundation, 2004[2] S.A. Jackson, The Quiet Crisis: Falling Short in Producing American Scientific and Technical Talent, Building Engineeringand Science TalentThe AMPTIAC Quarterly, Volume 8, Number 4 11