Microelectronic Engineering and Nanotechnology Education for Undergraduates and Pre-College Students through Curriculum Reform and Outreach Activities

The extension of microelectronics to new frontiers that include MEMS, nanotechnology, flexible electronics, biotechnology, energy and solid state lighting is inevitable.Development of a necessary multi faceted work force is critical to our nation's innovation edge in these fields.The department of Microelectronic Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology received a NSF implementation grant in 2005 to institute a major department level reform (DLR) to address this critical need.The key elements of this effort consist of curriculum reform in the main program, creation of a novel minor program and diverse activities to reach out to K-12 and pre college community.The curriculum reform consisting of creation of free electives through course consolidations, new course development that included a new