This story appears in The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society's student newsletter
Professional Preface, vol. 3, no. 5, p. 3.
How Did You Discover Materials?
If you attended Materials Week in Cincinnati, Ohio, Vicki Koebnick,
TMS manager of education and professional affairs, may have stopped you in the
hall to ask, "how did you discover materials?"
Why is she doing this? We're looking for personal stories--testimonies, if you
will--as research for the Career Resource Center for Materials Science and
Engineering (CRC).
When you wipe aside the reams of paper sitting on her desk describing the
purpose of the CRC and the process for creating the CRC, the goals of the
resource center can be simply stated as
- To better define the field of materials science and engineering.
- To provide reliable, timely information on the field to high school and college students potentially interested in or currently enrolled in materials science and engineering.
This second goal clearly defines YOU as the audience. And to best reach you
and your fellow students, we have planned to distribute information via a
CD-ROM and the World Wide Web. While final versions of both formats are not
scheduled for completion until the fall of 1997, a Web site and abbreviated
career booklet have been developed for your use and input during the next
year.
The CRC Web site (available through the TMS server at
http://www.tms.org currently includes the full text of the previous career
brochure, a question and answer bulletin board called Ask the Expert, links
to accredited programs, and a growing library of information on materials
disciplines.
The main feature of the site, Ask the Expert, is a forum in which students can
review biographical information on current materials science and engineering
professionals, drop a question to an expert via e-mail, and review previous
questions and answers. Experts are on-hand to answer both technical and
non-technical questions. Everyone is encouraged to participate--why not see if
you can "stump" the expert!
Statistical information has been generated with a survey conducted by TMS
through the funding supplied by the Sloan Foundation (see the commentary by
Gerald Liedl). This survey, the first of two that are planned, is provided for
review by students and faculty and contains information on materials science
and engineering-related subjects, from salaries to a breakdown of materials
engineers by degree. All information will be updated again following completion
of the second survey conducted in the fall of 1996.
A four-page black and white booklet has been published to provide students
with information on accredited university programs, areas of study, potential
job markets, and other details. A full-color brochure is scheduled for
production and will be released at the same time as the CD-ROM. The brochure
will include data summaries and charts, color photographs, and additional
specifics on entering the field.
Complimentary individual copies will be supplied upon written request to the
TMS Education and Professional Affairs Department at (724) 776-9000, ext. 213;
fax (724) 776-3770; e-mail luther@ tms.org. Universities may request bulk
shipments for use in 1996-97.
Activities regarding the CRC are continuing throughout the academic year. Here
are just a few of the upcoming activities.
- The second survey will be mailed this month to 10,000 alumni with degrees in
materials science and engineering (or one of its various degree titles). This
survey will focus on career paths, where graduates go for their first job, how
they get their second job, and other items.
- In the winter of 1995-96, student chapters were challenged to identify web
sites of particular interest to students studying materials. A similar contest
will be run this year, with additional details to be distributed via
Professional Preface and through a mailing to faculty advisors and chapter
chairs.
- A video crew will be traveling across the United States over the next few
months filming materials professionals to be featured on the CD-ROM.
- New experts will appear on Ask the Expert every three to four months, so
remember to visit the CRC web site often!
Of course, it is essential that all information collected and distributed be
in a format you understand and enjoy. So we again ask--how did you discover
materials? Please drop a note via fax [(724) 776-3770] or e-mail
koebnick@tms.org and let us know.
