Research Experience for Teachers (RET)
The Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program introduces K-12 public school teachers of science, math, and technology to Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) research scientists and engineers at Harvard University to develop connections with public schools.
Teachers participate in educational and technical research in nanoscale, bio, and materials science and engineering as part of the scientific research community. Participants will have the benefit of significant collaboration within the MRSEC science education community, and faculty in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard.
The 6–8 week RET program joins K-12 educators and the research community, enhances the quality of pre-college education, and results in the production of classroom-tested instructional materials. There are two National Science Foundation-funded programs where teachers will work closely with faculty, staff, students, and each other to develop educational modules based on their exposure to research throughout the summer. While all teacher participants share common meeting and training activities, each funding source has a distinct focus.
Harvard based Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC)
- Bring materials research science and engineering concepts to classroom
- Teachers from middle school to community college level can apply
- Teachers may return for a second summer to refine module
- Opportunities to participate in and present at local and national conferences
Research Experience for Teachers (RET) Workshops, Teacher Outreach
- Active learning opportunities to experience lessons from a student point of view
- Subject matter knowledge around the science of food and cooking (with a specific lens around concepts and practices aligned to NGSS)
- Pedagogical understanding around phenomena-based instruction, investigations, and building science practices
- Opportunities to discuss and adapt lessons to meet their students' needs
- Teachers may return every summer as courses update
More information about the RET Workshops.
Additional RET Workshops, Teacher Outreach
The Harvard Science and Cooking with Pia Sörensen, Senior Preceptor in Chemical Engineering and Applied Materials, and Kate Strangfeld, Ed.M.'22.
