Research Experience for Teachers in Materials for Society

The Research Experience for Teachers (RET) aids the integration of research with education and multiplies the benefit to both students and teachers. RETs play an important role in enhancing K-12 teacher skills in communicating science. Our goal is to help teachers better appreciate what materials science is, what materials professionals do, and how materials science serves society.

This six-eight week summer research experience is for teachers and runs in tandem with the REU. The RET at Boise State will expose STEM teachers to research techniques, instrumentation, and personnel that will better equip them to teach and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

The culminating experience will be the ASM Materials Camp®-Teachers (22-26 July), an idea-generating workshop introducing teachers to methods that make math and core science principles more enticing and relevant to their middle- and high-school students. Teachers will leave being able to engage their students with simple, low-cost experiments that integrate into existing lesson plans. Participants are eligible to receive four Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and can opt for two graduate-level credits.

There is no cost to REU Program participants! Teachers selected to participate in the RET receive a $1000 stipend per week. Limited housing is provided on the Boise State campus.  An additional living allowance will be available for teachers from out of state.

Complete the Online Application

The online application requests the following information (which should be assembled prior to starting the application form):

• Contact information
• Employment Information
• Education Information
• Four short essays (each no more than 300 words) that describe the following:

1. Why you would like to be involved in this Research Experience for Teachers in Materials for Society
2. What experience you have in science curriculum development
3. In what ways you would like to involve scientific research in a classroom setting
4. What you think you can contribute to the Research Experience for Teachers in Materials for Society

Request a Recommendation Letter

Request a recommendation letter from your first line supervisor or school principal – we will not contact them directly. Supervisors can upload RET recommendation letters online. Letters should include comments on the applicant’s potential for mentored science, lab skills, interest in science, motivation, work ethic, etc. Letters received by the priority deadline of 9 February 2024 will be given priority consideration.

Questions?

Contact us at materials@boisestate.edu or call Prof. Rick Ubic at (208) 426-2309.