Stronger, Smarter, Smaller, Cleaner: Materials Science Hits Prime-Time

摘要

Has anyone ever asked you, "What exactly do you do at work all day?" Does it sometimes feel like all you do is sit at your computer, go to meetings, answer your e-mails, write reports, and track budgets? Sure, every now and then, you get to work with a student or teach a class, but would you be able to convey the excitement of why you wanted to grow up to be a materials researcher to a classroom of middle school students?rnWhile science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education is receiving a great deal of attention, the truth is that materials science still struggles to attract students to enter the discipline. Maybe we need our own TV show similar to how surgeons, lawyers, and detectives are featured in hit shows like Grey's Anatomy, Law & Order, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation to help excite the public about our field. Hasn't forensics become a popular profession in part due to the public exposure provided by shows like CSI?