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Article
Recruiting a New Generation of Ceramic Engineers
Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition
  • Richard K. Brow, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Amanda L. Young
  • William Fahrenholtz, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Abstract

Students at the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR) were awarded a grant to develop kits that could be used by high school science teachers to promote interest in ceramic materials to their students. The proposal was funded by the Associated Glass and Pottery Manufacturers Association (AGPMA) with the intent of increasing the visibility of Ceramic Engineering as a career to high school students. As part of the project, UMR undergraduates are developing and testing self-contained kits for distribution to high schools. The kits will contain all of the materials and supplies needed for high school teachers to perform experiments and controlled demonstrations that illustrate important scientific principles in an entertaining manner. Laboratory exercises based on slip casting and glass melting have been prepared for the kits. These hands-on activities give a basic understanding for what ceramic materials are and how they are produced. They emphasize the application of science (chemistry and physics) to form common raw materials into useful products. At the end of the funding cycle, an example kit, written instructions, and an interactive digital video disk (DVD) will be delivered to AGPMA for distribution to high schools. The kits will include materials for slip casting clay-based ceramics, glass making, a ceramic superconductor demonstration, and a space shuttle tile demonstration. The slip casting materials include pre-made slips that will fire to various colors. The kit also contains molds and glazes. The glass making kit includes instructions, raw materials, and supplies needed to make watercorn syrup-sugar analogues to the modifier-intermediate-glass former roles of the components in soda-lime-silicate glasses. Each kit also comes with an YBa2Cu3O7-δ pellet and a magnet for demonstration of the Meissner effect. Finally, the kits contain a space shuttle tile and instructions for demonstrations of the insulating power of this fascinating material.

Department(s)
Materials Science and Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
  • High School Science Teachers,
  • Kits,
  • Ceramic materials
Document Type
Article - Conference proceedings
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2003 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
1-1-2003
Publication Date
01 Jan 2003
Citation Information
Richard K. Brow, Amanda L. Young and William Fahrenholtz. "Recruiting a New Generation of Ceramic Engineers" Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition (2003)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/richard-brow/116/