National Resource Center for Materials Technology Education (MatEdU)

随着纳米技术、生物科学、腐蚀和绿色技术以及金属、塑料和复合材料等传统领域的快速变化和新发展，行业对了解材料技术基础知识的合格和受过教育的技术人员的需求不断增长。因此，教育和培训计划必须跟上这些进展，并有资源来识别和阐明材料科学与制造工艺之间的联系。国家材料技术教育资源中心（MatEdU）（www.materialseducation.org）致力于成为行业，教育和社区合作的焦点，以满足材料技术劳动力的需求。MatEdU与高中，社区和技术学院以及大学合作，包括与16个2年制和4年制机构以及超过35个其他合作者的正式合作伙伴关系。MatEdU通过提供教学资源，最新的核心能力，教师专业发展研讨会和技术人员教育，以满足雇主的技能需求，为材料科学知识体系做出贡献。随着新材料和新工艺的不断涌现，这些努力尤为重要。 技术的扩大使用使MatEdU能够扩大覆盖面，包括覆盖代表性不足的人口。MatEdU产品向专业协会，行业，教育机构和社区组织的传播正在影响准备进入这一领域的劳动力的受过教育的技术人员的数量，这对美国的全球竞争力至关重要。

With rapid changes and new developments in nanotechnology, bioscience, corrosion, and green technologies, as well as in more traditional areas of metals, plastics and composites, industry need for qualified and educated technicians who understand the basics of materials technology has grown. As such, it is imperative that educational and training programs keep abreast of these advances and have a resource to identify and articulate the linkages between materials science and manufacturing processes. The National Resource Center for Materials Technology Education (MatEdU) (www.materialseducation.org) strives to be the focal point where industry, education and community collaborate to meet the materials technology workforce needs. MatEdU partners with high schools, community and technical colleges, and universities, including official partnerships with sixteen 2-year and 4-year institutions, and over thirty-five other collaborators. MatEdU is contributing to the body of knowledge in material science by providing instructional resources, up-to-date core competencies, faculty professional development workshops, and technician education to meet the skill demands of employers. These efforts are especially important as new materials and processes continue to emerge. The expanded use of technology is enabling MatEdU to have broader reach, including to underrepresented populations. Enhanced dissemination of MatEdU products to professional societies, industries, educational institutions, and community organizations is impacting the numbers of educated technicians prepared to enter the workforce in this field that is crucial to U.S. global competitiveness.