Materials education at the pre-college level

The importance of the pre-college level materials science and technology education in the United States is discussed. A description of materials science based educational curricula program under development at Northwestern University is given. Preliminary results show that materials science is of considerable interest to both the high school science teachers and students. Such a program will not only provide an interdisciplinary approach to the study of science and mathematics, but it will also enhance the awareness of students of the contributions of science and technology to society and their surrounding environment.