Connecting materials science to classrooms

Monica Cooney

Jul 1, 2025

In June, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) hosted ten educators for the ASM Materials Camp® for Teachers. Participants in the program included regional middle and high school teachers, as well as STEM education specialists from the 4-H Program. The heavily project-based course serves as a means to introduce educators to concepts that they can use to teach their own materials related course or to infuse some components into their existing curriculum.  

Through participating in hands-on lessons pertaining to metals, ceramics, polymers and composites, teachers are able to transfer these experiences to their own classrooms and give students a better understanding of the connections between materials and their everyday lives. During the week, the educators participated in tutorials in the Materials Characterization Facility, used equipment in the undergraduate materials innovation laboratory, and toured the nanofabrication laboratory. 

“The ASM camp really opened my mind into a practical use of chemistry,” said Jenna Warren, a teacher at Nazareth Prep High School who participated in the program. “The camp was definitely the best use of my summer time as a teacher and I plan on using what I learned to get students interested in materials science careers.” 

  • A group of four women in a science lab conduct an experiment with test tubes
    Attendees participated in hands-on lab activities
  • People sitting in classroom watching presentation
    Liza Allison, Program Manager of the Next Manufacturing Center presents information on additive manufacturing processes
  • People in nanofabrication lab wearing clean suits
    Attendees had the opportunity to tour CMU's Nanofabrication Laboratory
  • Two people sitting in classroom watching man give presentation
    Andrew Nickischer, Materials Characterization Facilities Specialist, provides an overview of materials imaging techniques
  • Three people in a laboratory observe a sample being pulled from a high-temperature furnace in use
    Participants used a high-temperature furnace to examine the effects of heat treating on material properties

    • The course was led by ASM Master Teachers, Justin Sickles and Kelly Calvelage, teachers who have successfully implemented components of the program into their own classrooms. These teachers who previously participated in the program go through additional training in order to become certified to lead the camp. 

    “I continue to teach these workshops because the materials science content is so interesting, engaging, and practical,” says Sickles, who is a high school teacher in the West Mifflin Area School District. “I really enjoy helping the teacher attendees learn about the amazing connections that materials science has to every content area.”

    The camp was definitely the best use of my summer time as a teacher and I plan on using what I learned to get students interested in materials science

    Jenna Warren, Teacher, Nazareth Prep High School

    Organized by the ASM Foundation, the camp is free of charge for participants. Since 2002, thousands of teachers have taken part in this hands-on opportunity, and as a result students across the country have discovered the importance of materials science through engineering, technology, or science courses in their school. The Carnegie Mellon College of Engineering supported this event to offset the costs associated with the program.  

    “We were pleased to host this group, as they are integral partners in inspiring the next generation of materials scientists and engineers,” said MSE department chair, Beth Dickey. “We hope that students will gain a better understanding of the versatility that an education in MSE offers through the connections these teachers can now provide.”