navigate: home: magazine: fall 2001: article

Electro-Optics Center: Using education to teach Pennsylvanians about optics By Kerry A. Newman
As director of education for Penn State’s Electro-Optics Center, Dr. Wendy L. Gilpin oversees the development of educational programs in the area of electro-optics technology for both K–12 and adult audiences. photo courtesy of Wendy L. Gilpin Dr. Michelle Raabe, instructor in microbiology at Penn State New Kensington, leads a microbiology workshop for participants of the 2001 “Females Interested in Reaching for Science, Technology and Engineering” program, conducted by the Electro-Optics Center in collaboration with Penn State New Kensington. photo courtesy of Electro-Optics Center	Just as the eye enables vision, the field of optics employs the power of light to accomplish tasks. While not apparent to many, the application of optical technology plays an important role in daily life; it enables the functioning of objects like compact discs, computers, digital alarm clocks and microscopes.   Due to the increasing importance of electro-optics in manufacturing, and specifically for national defense, the Electro-Optics Center (EOC) was established in 1999, after Penn State’s Applied Research Laboratory was awarded a contract from the Office of Naval Research. As an initiative of the Office of Naval Research, Penn State’s role is threefold: to create and administer the EOC facility, develop and oversee the technical projects and direct the workforce education and transfer of technology programs. The facility is located in Kittanning, Pa.   Dr. Wendy L. Gilpin, director of education at the Electro-Optics Center, stated that the primary objective of the education program is to address the shortage of an adequately trained workforce specific to electro-optics technology and the declining number of students entering engineering programs overall. Although more and more fields are using electro-optics technology in manufacturing, the workforce is shrinking.   “The need is growing, but the supply is going down,” Gilpin said. “That’s really the concern in industry and government.”   As a result, the EOC’s educational initiatives focus on reaching out to K–12 audiences, postsecondary students and members of the workforce to teach them about the significance of electro-optics. To target the K–12 audience, Gilpin and her staff conduct in-school presentations, attend career fairs and hold awareness programs for guidance counselors and parents. Many of the programs target middle school students, due to the impressionable ages of these students and their ability to map out their high school course curriculum. To advance the optics industry, “we are promoting math and science education,” Gilpin said. She estimated from February through April 2001, the EOC reached about 800 students through its educational outreach.   In addition to the students, Gilpin and the EOC are training educators, too. She has conducted regional workshops, which fulfilled Pennsylvania Act 48 professional development requirements for both teachers and guidance counselors. Future programs are being developed that can be incorporated into teachers’ in-service days.   Developing partnerships and a presence in the community is also an important part of spreading awareness of the Electro-Optics Center facility and of the significance of electro-optics. When conducting programs, Gilpin is often assisted by partners from the Electro-Optics Alliance (EOA), a group established by the EOC to promote the United States’ role in electro-optics research and the role of electro-optics in manufacturing technology. The EOA is comprised of more than 100 members from industry, academia and government. Through subcontracts with the EOC, alliance members also have the opportunity to engage in technical research projects for the U.S. Navy.   In addition to the Electro-Optics Alliance, Gilpin has established partnerships with regional universities and local businesses. In May, the EOC partnered with Penn State New Kensington to hold a “Females Interested in Reaching for Science, Technology and Engineering” program for college-bound women who plan to study for careers in these fields. In addition to learning about electro-optics and the center, the students toured area EOA businesses to see real-life applications of science and technology.   Dr. Karl A. Harris, director of the Electro-Optics Center, reiterated the significance of developing partnerships.   “By working in partnership with the region’s education providers, secondary schools, vocational schools and vocational rehabilitation centers, and pertinent Electro-Optics Alliance members, the EOC is providing the initiative to implement a variety of outreach programs, including employability skills training, certificate courses, two-year degrees, post-degree (specialized) training and skills training. Delivery of these systems will include distance learning, the Internet and on-site hands-on teaching,” he said.   “Such activity is critical toward providing a needed workforce in electro-optics not only for attracting new companies to set up shop in the region, but also to ensure a viable industrial base across the United States for the Department of Defense,” Harris added.   The EOC is also partnering with the University of Rochester by using the Optics Suitcase in K–12 presentations. The university developed the kit to help educators highlight the role of electro-optics in everyday life. In addition to including different fliers and activities for educators, the suitcase contains various novelty items the students can keep. The objects are used in experiments that demonstrate different concepts in the field of optics and optical technology.   “We try to relate simple experiments to what’s going on in the real world,” Gilpin said.   Use of the Optics Suitcase also led her to develop relationships within the community. She is working with the Progressive Workshop of Armstrong County, an organization in western Pennsylvania that finds jobs for individuals with disabilities, to manufacture the theme packets used in the Optics Suitcase. The partnership illustrates how the EOC is not only conducting educational outreach, but is also positively affecting the community by creating jobs for local residents.   She professed the potential for the Electro-Optics Center appears limitless. Recent expansion has resulted in a “teaching factory” at the EOC facility. Laboratory and classroom space will be used in training programs for Electro-Optics Alliance members and also will be used by the Armstrong Educational Trust for educational programs for the community.   Gilpin also envisions the development of more partnerships and the expansion of the EOC’s programming into new areas. Initiatives are already under way at Penn State New Kensington and Indiana University of Pennsylvania to develop two-year programs in electro-optics. And expansion into other Pennsylvania areas is within sight, as plans are being made to increase the EOC’s presence at trade shows and to sponsor science events, develop distance education programs and expand the Web site to include curricula and resources for students, parents and educators.   For more information about the Electro-Optics Center, visit the Web site at www.electro-optics.org.