Jeff DiTullio Business Development Team US Army Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center FLC STEM Partnership Grants September 2010 UNCLASSIFIEDOPSEC # U10-503

Natick Soldier RD&E Center Focused on the Soldier Mission: –RD&E To maximize the Warfighter’s survivability, sustainability, mobility, combat effectiveness & field quality of life by treating the Warfighter as a system –Adding Value Through: Technology generation, application, and transition enabling rapid fielding of the right equipment Soldier Systems Technology Integration & Transition Solving field problems rapidly Vision: –To be the recognized center for Warfighter & Homeland Defender related research, technologies & systems Individual Protection DOD Combat Feeding DOD Combat Feeding Collective Protection Airdrop/ Aerial Delivery Airdrop/ Aerial Delivery Transformation to the future force & supporting the current fight with the Warfighter as the centerpiece of the formation Transformation to the future force & supporting the current fight with the Warfighter as the centerpiece of the formation Supporting Sciences Supporting Sciences UNCLASSIFIED 2

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Outreach (K-12+) DoD best situated by Mission, People and Facilities to assist w/ Nat’l & DoD future STEM workforce goals (S&T Labs primary resource) Army - Support DoD STEM Future Workforce vision through wide- range educational outreach activities while enhancing public image of the Army as developer of high technologies and STEM employer (Army labs primary resource) RDECOM – Enable labs to support STEM outreach while ensuring a comprehensive, integrated, synchronized STEM program (lab S&Es primary resource to communities). Enable S&Es to reach out to host communities to develop educational outreach partnerships; collaborate with local and state educators and industry and academic partners; and monitor and report on success. Department of Defense Priority Massachusetts is National STEM Leader Success formula: Teacher centered approach w/ our STEM professionals as mentors Leadership Initiatives for Teaching &Technology: LIFT2 Many state & local partners UNCLASSIFIED 3

Great opportunity to leverage our current STEM teacher partnerships! Small amount of funding is perfect for teachers Teachers are thrilled to be partnering w/ US Army & STEM professionals Strong willingness to share results amongst fellow teachers Curriculum efforts include attention to understanding: –STEM careers in the Department of Defense/Federal Government –Industry role w/ focus on how new technologies result in products –Unique need of manufacturing base –Visits to STEM Labs to see technology development process first hand Critical Need: New materials for the classroom! Providing teachers with this unique opportunity is helping to meet this need. Participating teachers are extremely grateful & want to express their appreciation to the FLC for sponsoring these grants. FLC STEM Teacher Grants 2010 UNCLASSIFIED 4

Grant to Mr. Bruno Nosiglia, Franklin Horace Mann Middle School: Parachute Development Challenge Textile Technology Materials Engineering Explore materials science: Design various size parachutes Build “payload” Drop test to analyze performance Engineering design challenge: Understanding material properties Performance using different materials Materials investigation: Students visit the Parachute Prototype Facility Lab STEM Professionals visit classroom to view student designs Collaboration w/ NSRDEC parachute engineers & design professionals Engineering & Technology UNCLASSIFIED 5

Grant to Mr. Mohammed Bakr, Franklin Tri-County High School: Nanotechnology Curriculum for Engineering Students NDEP’s LABTV Webisodes (including 2 NSRDEC - Spinning Nanofibers & Light Antennas) NanoKits from Museum of Science – Minnesota Materials World Module – Nanotechnology Program Engineering students exploring Nanotechnology: Exploring career opportunities in nanotechnology Students visit the Lab to meet Nanotechnologist and see the latest in nanotechnology equipment (e.g., High Performance Fiber Facility) Collaboration w/ NSRDEC Nanotechnologist: Brenda Redding worked in NSRDEC lab this summer under teacher grant Experience exploring 3D modeling of nanofibers Partnership w/ Franklin High School science teacher: Fabricating Nano-sized objects Exploring alternative power and energy sources Exploring nanoparticles using the latest equipment Culminating student activity: Nanotechnology UNCLASSIFIED 6

Grant to Mr. Robert Goss, Douglas High School: Biosensors Enhancement to AP Biology Curriculum Department of Defense R&D Industry R&D Supporting manufacturing processes Students exploring life sciences careers: History & evolution Student background research presentations Investigating manufacturing process for biosensors AP biotechnology students explore biosensors: Bioluminescence – really cool firefly experiment Investigating enzymes & indicator molecules Making a peroxide biosensor Biosensors lab experience (leveraged from materials world modules) Biotechnology career visit to the classroom (history & role of DoD / Army) Visit to the lab Laboratory partnership activities Biosensors UNCLASSIFIED 7

The tremendous benefit of teacher partnerships with STEM professionals - provide real world context to lessons: Mr. Bruno Nosiglia, primary federal laboratory partner –Ms. Laurra Winters Airdrop Design Specialist, unique textile technology background. Mr. Mohammed Bakr, primary federal laboratory partners –Mr. Steve Fossey & Ms. Kris Senecal, biotechnologists w/ advanced materials (nanomaterials) and modeling backgrounds. Mr. Robert Goss, primary federal lab partners –Mr. Jason Soares & Mr. Steve Arcidiacono, biotechnologists w/ basic research experience in biosensors. Summary UNCLASSIFIED 8

Thanks FLC! UNCLASSIFIED 9