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In preparation for an upcoming proposal submission to the NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC) program, members of the CU Boulder research community—as well as potential partner organizations and collaborators—are invited to a virtual MRSEC Town Hall meeting on Thursday, March 3, 12–2 p.m.

The goal of this event is to gather valuable input on topics that include education, outreach, program evaluation, and diversity and inclusion as the university envisions the programming necessary to address NSF's Broader Impacts criterion for this proposal. Broader Impacts encompasses how the NSF-funded Centers will carry out work for the potential benefit to society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.

Joining us in this important conversation are currently funded MRSEC Education Directors. We will hear about their successful programs, learn about their effective partnerships, and gain an understanding as to how their Center addresses the Broader Impacts criterion. In this meeting, we are interested in hearing about your programs, ideas and how they may align with forming effective partnerships with us.

Please join us along with your colleagues from across CU Boulder and the region who have already expressed interest in being a part of the upcoming MRSEC proposal.

Background

NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs)ÌýareÌýa network ofÌýCenters located at academic institutionsÌýthroughout the United States, funded by theÌýNational Science Foundation.ÌýIn Spring 2021, CU BoulderÌýconducted an open campus-wide call for nominations for the next NSF MRSEC Director. Kristi Anseth has been selected as the Director and Tim White as the co-Director.ÌýWith input from external reviewers and a scientific advisory committee, three Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG) themeÌýpre-proposals were down-selected in January 2022.

If you have questions or would like to learn more about the CU Boulder MRSEC, please contactÌý rio@colorado.edu.