Materials Research Center (MRC): Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
The MRC is currently home to the Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) department at RPI. In 2023, the MSE department hosts nearly 120 undergraduate students and 60 graduate students [3]. On top of this, the Materials department is home to twenty-one professors and advanced researchers, utilizing the labs of the MRC to perform any tests or experiments. Some RPI administration associated with the MSE department hosts seasonal events and parties, as well as research symposiums and guest lecturers for those interested in materials. The Richard Siegel Material Advantage Chapter at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a student-run materials-associated club on RPI's campus, often uses the MRC as a site to host their meetings, both formal and informal. | The MRC is currently home to the Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) department at RPI. In 2023, the MSE department hosts nearly 120 undergraduate students and 60 graduate students [3]. On top of this, the Materials department is home to twenty-one professors and advanced researchers, utilizing the labs of the MRC to perform any tests or experiments. Some RPI administration associated with the MSE department hosts seasonal events and parties, as well as research symposiums and guest lecturers for those interested in materials. The Richard Siegel Material Advantage Chapter at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a student-run materials-associated club on RPI's campus, often uses the MRC as a site to host their meetings, both formal and informal. | ||
== References == | |||
Revision as of 23:09, 20 February 2023
Introduction
The Materials Research Center (MRC) is a building on RPI's campus, established in 1962. It lies near the EMPAC building and is attached to the Empire State Hall, which hosts the New York State Center for Polymer Synthesis at Rensselaer.
History
Under a grant from NASA imbued on September 25, 1962, the MRC was built on RPI's campus [1]. James E. Webb, a NASA administrator, former US Under Secretary of State [2], and peer of future RPI President George M. Low, stated that the grant was designed to "house interdisciplinary activities in space related sciences and technology to universities which are making substantial contributions to the national space program"[1]. This $1.5 million grant covered around 60% of the entire cost of the project, and an extra $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation was devoted to the formation of an Engineering Science Research wing of the building. Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill were the architects that constructed the 96,000 square foot MRC, full of twenty five laboratories. Each laboratory was devoted to a specific subject, ranging through powder metallurgy, polymers, ceramics, ultrasonics, cryogenics, corrosion research, and other research on materials. From its conception, the ten-member Interdisciplinary Material Research Committee directed the program dedicated to materials research in the MRC.
On April 26, 1966, the MRC was formally dedicated as part of the "Man and Materials" symposium.
Current Usage
The MRC is currently home to the Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) department at RPI. In 2023, the MSE department hosts nearly 120 undergraduate students and 60 graduate students [3]. On top of this, the Materials department is home to twenty-one professors and advanced researchers, utilizing the labs of the MRC to perform any tests or experiments. Some RPI administration associated with the MSE department hosts seasonal events and parties, as well as research symposiums and guest lecturers for those interested in materials. The Richard Siegel Material Advantage Chapter at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a student-run materials-associated club on RPI's campus, often uses the MRC as a site to host their meetings, both formal and informal.