ATE Impacts 2020-2021

Community of Practice & New Certificates Address Workforce Needs SCME supports the Micro Nano Technology Education Special Interest Group (MNTeSIG), a collaboratory that has evolved into a community of practice. Its goal is to foster collaboration between educators, industry, and agencies for ongoing improvement of the micro and nanotechnology workforce. In fall 2019 MNTeSIG had 125 active members. They included educators from every sector and a growing contingent of industry people. P articipants meet monthly online (https://mntesig.net) and face-to-face once a year to learn from each other in order to improve and promulgate micro and nanotechnology education. In addition to creating innovative, online short courses, SCME continues to develop the workforce by providing educators with classroom kits, professional development, and mentoring opportunities. Advice from SCME's industry advisory board-with representatives from Honeywell, Texas Instruments, NXP, HT Micro, 3D Glass, Sandia National Laboratories-led to development of a new four-certificate program. The certificates in BioMEMS, MEMS foundations, MEMS fabrication, and MEMS applications have the support of the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE). These certificates will improve the marketability of students and industry technicians alike. Students and faculty work together to fabricate a micro-pressure sensor during an SCME workshop. •