By the numbers

Princeton’s Center for Complex Materials is part of a National Science Foundation (NSF) program to support research into the fundamental properties of matter that can be applied to produce new technologies. In addition to conducting research, the 31 centers in the NSF program use their expertise to improve science education and engage students from middle school to college. Daniel Steinberg, the outreach director of Princeton’s center, is leading an initiative to coordinate the education efforts across all 31 centers.

• The NSF recently awarded nearly $20 million to provide funding for the Center for Complex Materials through 2014. The center will use about $1.2 million of the grant for education outreach.
• Each spring since 2004, the materials science program has sponsored and co-directed the University’s Science and Engineering Expo. Last March, the event was attended by 1,000 New Jersey middle-school students who learned about cutting-edge science through hands-on activities and demonstrations by Princeton scientists and engineers.
• Since 2005, 150 New Jersey teachers have attended the center’s Materials Camp for Teachers, a program for K-12 educators that shows them how to use materials science and engineering techniques in their classroom.
• Since 1998, the center’s Research Experience for Undergraduates program has offered 260 college students from around the country — primarily from other institutions — a chance to work with Princeton scientists in their labs for a summer.