HWI Hosts First Ever Materials Science Workshop for Teachers

HarbisonWalker International (HWI), the largest supplier of refractory products and services in the U.S, recently partnered with The Ceramic and Glass Industry Foundation (CGIF) and The American Ceramic Society (ACerS) to provide a free one-day event, Materials Science Workshop for Teachers on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at HWI’s Advanced Technology & Research Center (ATRC) at 1001 Pittsburgh-McKeesport Boulevard in West Mifflin, PA.

The workshop was designed to help 21 teachers of 7th through 12th grades bring materials science education into their classrooms through the use of the CGIF’s Materials Science Classroom Kit.  The kit makes materials science concepts relevant, interesting, and fun for young adults, and the hands-on demonstrations and labs are a proven way of getting students interested in subject matter that they will need to know as they prepare to enter the high-tech workforce of today.

“We’re eager to help teachers gain hands-on experience in materials science, so their students can learn more, and even consider it as a possible career path,” said Bryn Snow, Manager, Applications Technology – Glass at HarbisonWalker International. “As the refractory industry becomes more technologically sophisticated, we’re hoping that students will realize that they can find challenging and rewarding career opportunities in a viable and stable industry that’s vital to American and global manufacturing.”

Snow noted that almost every major industry sector from glass, steel, aluminum, to petrochemicals, chemicals, and more, all rely on refractory products and services to protect their assets in production.

Each workshop participant received a Materials Science Classroom Kit and The Magic of Ceramics book ($250 value), sponsored by HWI.

The following 19 area schools are participating in the workshop.
• Weir High School
• St. Marys Area High School
• Apollo-Ridge Middle School
• Deer Lakes
• Penn-Trafford High School
• Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School
• Peters Township High School
• Greensburg Salem High School
• Purchase Line
• West Mifflin Area Middle School
• Bethlehem Center High School
• West Mifflin Area High School
• Divine Mercy Catholic Academy
• Quaker Valley Middle School
• New Brighton Area High School
• Quaker Valley Middle School
• Shady Side Academy
• Apollo-Ridge High School
• Parkwaywest CTC
• Daytona State College