5th International Materials Education Symposium

• Symposium: April 4-5, 2013
• Courses: April 2-3, 2013

Venue: University of Cambridge, UK

Talks, workshops, and poster sessions focus on four key themes:

1. Engaging Student Interest
2. Crossing Disciplines:   Design & Architecture
3. Emerging Opportunities:  Sustainable Technology
4. International Perspectives

Download the event booklet

Agenda—summary

View the full Symposium program »
View the poster abstracts »

The Social Programme includes the Presenters' Dinner on the Wednesday, the Drinks Reception and Symposium Dinner on Thursday, and opportunities for exploring Cambridge on the Saturday.

• Costs and options for attending  »
• Visa and immigration information »
• View the full Symposium program »

Short Courses

The Symposium provides opportunities for educators to discuss all aspects of materials teaching. On the two days preceding the event, there will be a chance to focus on just one of these: CES EduPack. These optional short courses are led by Prof. Mike Ashby and will take place in the Cambridge University Engineering Department. Existing users can also join the CES EduPack Development Workshop.

Overview

The main Symposium sessions will include:

• Around 15-20 presentations from an international speaker panel selected by the Symposium Advisory Committee. Talks will cover teaching in the following topic areas: materials science, manufacturing and processes, mechanical engineering, industrial design, aerospace and nuclear engineering, bio engineering, plastics, and sustainable engineering
• Interactive discussion sessions
• Socializing and 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 on the two preceding days and Saturday, including a Presenter's dinner, short courses, networking, and the CES EduPack development meeting

Materials science and materials engineering sit at the intersection of many different subject areas (see figure, right), and play an important role in education and industry as they link the pure and applied sciences across many fields. This breadth makes these subjects uniquely well placed to contribute to the solution of many of today's challenges. The interdisciplinary nature of materials teaching will be a major focus for the Symposia as we explore how materials can link different subjects together, and learn from experiences of teaching materials and processes across the curriculum.

These events for materials educators follow on from the success of the 2012 symposia, which delegates praised for providing extended opportunities for discussion and encouraging the exchange of ideas and experiences related to materials teaching. The symposia fostered an atmosphere of community amongst educators involved in teaching undergraduate materials science across disciplines including engineering, design, and science. The 2013 symposia are being coordinated by Granta Design, with support from an independent academic Advisory Committee, ASM International, the ASEE Materials Division, SEFI, FEMS, Philadelphia University, and the University of Cambridge. more »