NSF Announces Eight Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials Awarded as Result of Competition

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announces eight Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREMs) awarded as a result of the 2009 PREM competition.

The objective of the PREM program is to broaden participation of under-represented groups and enhance diversity in materials research and education. The objective is achieved by encouraging formal, long-term, multi-investigator, collaborative research and education partnerships between women- and minority-serving colleges and universities, colleges and universities dedicated to educating a majority of students with disabilities, and NSF Division of Materials Research (DMR)-supported centers and facilities. This is the third PREM competition since the program was launched in 2004.

The new partnerships will impact a wide range of materials research and education, including nanomaterials and nanotechnology, biomaterials and biotechnology, electronics, spintronics, soft materials, polymers and materials for renewable energy.

Each PREM has made a substantial commitment to effectively integrating its educational and outreach activities with its scientific research program towards the PREM goal of broadening participation for under-represented groups in materials research and education, and enhancing diversity at all academic levels. The educational outreach activities cover the entire range from elementary school to the postgraduate level.

Each award is for five years. These awards, including the 6 PREMs awarded in 2006, bring the total to 14 PREMs with annual NSF support of $7.81 million.

Three of the awards were made with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds that DMR received in FY 2009.

"I am delighted with the results of the PREM competition and, the diversity in the materials science and education that it will offer to our future workforce," said Zakya H. Kafafi, the Division Director for DMR. "Thanks to the generous support of science by the new administration, DMR was able to expand this program considerably in its ongoing effort to broaden participation of under-represented groups in materials science and education, and bring true diversity in our academic institutions."

For more information see: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5439&org=DMR and http://prem.mrsec.org/.

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