It's a mouthful to say and hard to understand what students are studying in Michael Boyer's nanotechnology and engineering research classes at North Penn High School:

• Advanced anode and cathode materials for magnesium air fuel cells

• Photovoltaic, thermoelectric and piezoelectric energy harvesting roof system

• Microencapsulated non-Newtonian based concussion prevention materials

But international educators have taken notice.

Boyer and three teams of students are the first from the United States to be invited to present research next month at an international science conference at St. Paul's School in London.

"Our students are doing cutting edge research, and they'll be able to share their ideas with students from England, Germany Japan ... when does that ever happen at the high school level?" Boyer said. "It opens up so many opportunities for them."

Students Engy Khoshit, Scott Schrum and Noah Wendt will present their wireless energy transfer system; Anthony Brigidi, Jason Ellstrom and TJ Schmidt will discuss their energy-harvesting roof shingles; and James Drinkwater and Jake Yoder will talk about their advanced battery separators.

A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help the students raise money for the one-week trip in March.

"These students take this course as a culmination of at least three years in our engineering academy," said Todd Bauer, the high school principal. "Yes, they learn about nanotechnology and other principles of science and math, but the most important component which drives the passion is the process. These students are finding problems, doing research, designing experiments to test their hypotheses, and then presenting these results all in hopes of making things better."

The engineering academy is North Penn's five-course sequence that emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, innovation and real-world problem solving for students planning on college and a career in engineering or engineering technology.

Ten years ago, after three summers in a technology program at Drexel University, Boyer added the Future is N.E.A.R. (Nanotechnology Education and Research) program that allows cutting-edge research.

Students can't get enough of the course, which takes up a period and a half every day. Students willingly give up half of their time for lunch.

"It's never enough," student Harris Levine said. "I wish I could be here all day."

The class is not traditional, in that Boyer doesn't stand in front of the students and teach. Instead, they work on their projects and learn together.

Boyer doesn't even consider himself a teacher. "I'm a piece of metal," he said. "I'm a door hinge ... that opens up opportunities for students."  Such as the chance to head to the U.K.

In class, Boyer seemingly bounces from each area where students are working.

"Gone are the days of a teacher knowing all the answers," he said. "I've become a colleague in the learning process, and it's exciting.

"There's no fear of failure," he added. "It's amazing. You learn from failure more than you do from memorizing. They learn to make the world a better place. How do we improve the human condition? ...

They're reviewing research papers from all over the world. This is graduate Ph.D. work at the high school level. These kids inspire me."

Student Scott Schrum said Boyer's philosophy is "not about trying to get a good grade. He cares more about us understanding what the material is."

Bauer, the school principal, described Boyer as "the most passionate educator with whom I have worked.

"His passion for his content area is contagious, but his passion for students is even more evident. He loves to inspire kids, rather than motivate them, and he makes a difference in the lives of his students on a daily basis. Not only is he all of these things, but he is so darn humble. I feel lucky to work with Mike."

Boyer wouldn't describe his school day as work.

"I've never worked a day in my life," he said.

Gary Weckselblatt
Staff Writer with The Intelligencer and Courier Times
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Follow me on Twitter @gweckselblatt