Philadelphia, PA - February 3, 2018 -

What is Materials Science?  How can plastic conduct electricity?  What are carbon nanotubes? What are high temperature super conductors?  How do engineers, researchers and scientists make materials stronger yet also make them lighter?

These questions and many more were asked and answered at the 8^th annual Philly Materials Day event held at Drexel University on Saturday, February 3^rd, 2018!

North Penn High School Engineering Academy seniors Mason Ahner, Kurt Barclay, Connor Bryant, Aidan Daly, Bryce Furek, Stephen Hammond, Alex Hotchkiss, Tahsinul Huq, Matthew Knoebel, Ryan Munch, Jessica Niebuhr, Jared O'Neill, Istiaq Rahman, Braxton Sweeny-Higley, Jacob Tarlo, Daniel Trumpp, Zach Warner, and Ryan Winkworth presented their research and Materials Science hands-on demonstrations to visitors in the Bossone Research Center at Drexel University from 10am to 3pm.

The students' research endeavors, made possible by generous grant funding from the North Penn Educational Foundation, encompassed the following topics: synthetic muscles, multi-source energy harvesting, phase change materials, piezoelectricity, electronics plants and synthetic nerves.

The students shared their research with visitors of all ages and had the opportunity to network with the other presenters from Drexel University, The University of Pennsylvania and local businesses.  This opportunity has helped to prepare them for their final Nanotechnology and Engineering Research Symposium held at North Penn High School on Tuesday, May 29, 2018!

The Future is N.E.A.R. (Nanotechnology Education and Research) program parallels the senior capstone course, Engineering Design and Development (EDD), of the North Penn High School Engineering Academy.  The program offers its students an opportunity to gain 21st century skills that will prepare them to become successful leaders in a technological global society.  The program introduces the fundamentals of nanotechnology, engineering research and a rigorous application of their knowledge and skills to high school students while cultivating their interest in engineering, problem solving and life-long learning.  Students seek opportunities to research & develop solutions to global issues by capitalizing from fundamentals of nanotechnology and engineering research utilizing the latest published research available.

If you are interested in learning more about their research, the Engineering Academy or the Technology and Engineering Education Department, please visit their websites: www.northpennengineering.org or www.thefutureisnear.org.

Students present at Philly Materials Day Saturday 2/3/18!! PiezoPOWER explaining piezoelectric material properties with visitors. simVRT demonstrating Non-Newtonian Fluids. PCM United demonstrating Phase Change Materials. Power Plant demonstrating electronic plants. Synbionic Inc. demonstrating material conductivity. T.P.S. Energy Systems demonstrating energy harvesting. Biosyn discussing synthetic muscle research and development. Dr. Marcolongo meeting with the Engineering Academy students. Visitors learning about materials science at North Penn High School. Visitors learning about materials science at North Penn High School. Visitors learning about materials science at North Penn High School. Thank you to all of the grant funding organizations who has made our journey possible!