Furthering STEM in the Inland Empire Through Thin Film Electronic Materials Research
Abstract
There is a critical need to develop a strong, diverse domestic work force in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to safeguard the security of our Nation. Unfortunately, there is currently a shortage of U.S. citizen workers in STEM positions. The projected growth of the deficit is troubling, particularly for the defense industry which relies heavily on citizen workers. If current education and labor trends continue, the STEM worker shortage is predicted to reach 1 million citizen workers in just 6 years (2024). A recent study by the Rand National Defense Research Institute indicates that the increasing Hispanic demographic of the United States, coupled with very-low Hispanic participation in the STEM work force (~5%), has been exacerbating this issue. STEM educational outreach targeted specifically at Hispanic communities is critical to increase Hispanic participation rates in the STEM labor force. Here we propose to use this grant opportunity to bring new equipment to the University of California, Riverside that will allow us to strengthen existing Department of Defense (DoD) research, develop new DoD research capabilities and increase educational outreach at all levels: K-12, undergraduate and graduate, with emphasis on the Hispanic communities of Southern CaliforniaÕs Inland Empire region. Our location in the Inland Empire and close ties to the surrounding Hispanic communities and school districts in the Riverside and San Bernardino counties puts us is in a strong geographic position to accomplish our goals in STEM minority educational outreach. To accomplish our goals, we request funding for the acquisition of a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) system for thin-film synthesis. The PLD system will be incorporated into a program that advances STEM education and research in the areas of thin film electronic materials, synthesis and characterization, as well as advanced nano-electronics engineering. Synthesis and characterization of functional materials overlaps with several relevant DoD related areas of interest, such as semiconductors, superconductors, metamaterials, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and photonics. Acquisition of a state-of-the-art PLD system will promote and support numerous ongoing DoD research projects, and it will provide UCR with the ability to launch new ones. At the K-12 level, we will work with existing well-established outreach programs to provide demonstrations and hands-on learning opportunities at local science fairs and campus-sponsored events. From an educational point-of-view, the synthesis of thin-films with a pulsed laser deposition system is a simple message to articulate; it is straightforward to develop programs that are conducive for all education levels and learning styles, e.g., visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. At the undergraduate level, students from the California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP) program will participate directly in DoD research programs and get hands-on training in preparation for graduate study. For graduate and post-doctoral education, this equipment will provide our campus with new cutting-edge technology for synthesizing novel thin-film materials. Training and experience with this type of technology is not currently available in the predominantly Hispanic region of California known as the Inland Empire. Therefore, the acquisition of this equipment will provide our students with special skills and experiences that are coveted by industry and will help them in their future careers. This abstract is approved for public release.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1910513
Entities
People
- Shane A Cybart
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- University of California, Riverside