SCME-NM.ORG

Welcome to the SCME-NM.org Website!  

Funded by the National Science Foundation, DUE #0902411

My name is Matthias Pleil, I am the Principal Investigator for the Southwest Center for Microsystems Education, a National Science Foundation supported Advanced Technological Education Center at the University of New Mexico.  Welcome to our site!   Follow me on Twitter and SCME on Facebook!

From the desk of Dr. Vadiee:

 Dr. Nader Vadiee, SIPI Engineering programs faculty and Dorothy Wester chairperson , attended the NSF AIHEC 2011 STEM LEADERS FPRUM , September

21-22 , 2011. Dr. Nader Vadiee was an invited speaker and he gave a talk on his "SIPI VIP ROSE STEMS Program" . He also shared his proposal for a new program titled " The STEM EDUCATION CORPS OF AMERICA" for TCU's.

See the informative white paper: "Vertically Integrated Pyramid (VIP) Approach to Research, OUtreach, and Student Education (ROSE) in Sciences, Technology, Engineering, and Math. (STEM) for Tribal Colleges and University (TCU)"

Learn what makes your i-phone know which way is up, how a crash bag knows when to detonate, how the inertial sensor in your game controller is made!  What are MEMS? How are they made? What's it like in a clean room?

From Matt's Desk

As you may or should know, NDSCS Rocks!  North Dakota State College of Science is the only one of our many partners has made the leap to teaching the SCME 4 day Pressure Sensor Cleanroom Workshop outside of New Mexico's UNM MTTC.  WOW!  They did great - here are some quotes from the participants:

1. I expected to learn some great information, but I did not expect to leave with a general understanding of the entire process. I can hardly wait to tell people about what I experienced.
   
2. I learned some of the concepts behind nano techniques. This can be taken back to my classroom to add real-life applications for theories we already teach.
   
3. Instructors are extremely clear in their explanations. There is a great mix of lab supported by materials and lecture. Instructors are extremely knowledgeable and competent. There is a great mix of the disciplines all coming together to teach the concepts.
   
4. I am now familiar with SCME and many of the kit contents.
   
5. The information was thorough, the instruction was very personal and outstanding. I will be in contact in the future with these instructors to discuss ways to bring these concepts to all grade levels and content areas.

And when asked if, when and where they would use the materials:

1. I am currently doing outreach, but I plan to use my kit to explain the general process to others.
   
2. Lift-off kit for introductory chem lab.
   
3. I will use the crystallography in earth science and the sensor activities in advanced biology.
   
4. Pressure Sensor Model Activity Kit (#9). I will use this with the Society of Physics Students group (about 15 students).
   
5. Chemistry concepts, manufacturing processes and basics of nanotechnology application.

This is really awesome for a first timer!