The Manufacturing Education Resource Center (MERC) has many resources in Nano and Micro Technology available to you with a few simple clicks of the mouse.

Highlighted is An Emerging Education Program for Microsystems Technologists, a paper presented at the 2005 Advancing Innovations in Engineering Education conference by Dr. Matthias Pleil and Dr. Al West. This white paper gives a compelling argument for training students in the technology of Microsystems. (Please see MERC Featured Event section below for information on the upcoming 2006 Advancing Innovations conference.)

Dr. Pleil is slated to lead MERC's next web seminar, Micro to Nano - An Introduction, on August 23.

At MERC, you may also find other Nano and Micro resources by using our advanced search with keywords such as "nanotechnology" and "MEMS," or by using our Nanotechnology resource links.

Visit MERC today!

Responses were extremely positive to a recent MERC users survey asking them how they use the site and their overall opinions of the site. The survey also asked MERC users for comments and suggestions for improvement.

Over half of the users found MERC to be very helpful or exceptionally helpful, and 100% of those responding would recommend MERC to other manufacturing educators/industry professionals. One survey participant noted, “The resources I have found enriched my understanding of material manufacturing and this has helped me to explain these concepts to others more clearly.”

More than half of the respondents stated that they now prefer using MERC over Google to search for manufacturing education related materials.

The survey yielded a number of suggestions for additional and/or new MERC materials, including: feedback from manufacturing employers on what skills and knowledge high school students need to work after graduation; lab exercise ideas in manufacturing processes and operations; and more information on RFID technology, MEMS manufacturing, lean for healthcare, project management and business initiatives.

Additional comments from MERC users included, “MERC helps me be a better teacher,” “Thank you for the great experience,” and “MERC is doing great so far.”

MERC would like to say thank you again to all who responded to the survey. MERC continues to strive to be your greatest resource for all of your manufacturing education needs.

The Advancing Innovations in Engineering Education: Ideas for a New Age 2006 conference will be held November 1-3 at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida. The goal of the conference, which is co-sponsored by the NCME, NJCATE, and MATEC, is to share best practices and exchange ideas to support and enhance manufacturing and engineering technician education in the 21st century.

This year's topics include: The Next Frontiers: Programs in Manufacturing and Emerging Technologies; Innovative Technical Programs: Methodology and Pedagogy; and Strategies in Recruitment and Retention. Ultimately, Advancing Innovations will focus on inspiring creativity, exploring emerging technologies, attracting students, and marketing engineering technologies.

Proposals for presentations are currently being accepted. Proposals must include: 1) a fifty word abstract (to be included in program agenda), 2) a one or two page description of the presentation (to be published in the conference proceedings), and 3) a short (1 paragraph) bio of the presenter including contact information. Deadline for submissions is September 22.

The registration fee for the conference is $199 which includes complimentary hotel accommodations for two nights.

For more information on this exciting conference, click here.

Published by the NCME. Copyright 2006. All rights reserved.
MERC and the NCME are funded by the National Science Foundation.
Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.