Public Lectures

MACES hosts an annual open house to boost STEM interest, introduce MACES education programs for recruitment, and showcase MACES research outcomes. MACES has welcomed two phenomenon keynote speakers, veteran female astronaut Dr. Tommy Jernigan (2017) with 5 space flights under her belt and inductee of the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame, a Ted fellow, Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi (2018) who is known for hosting popular science TV shows such as “How The Universe Works and "Space’s Deepest Secret" to speak to students.

Center Mission

Our research, undergraduate, and graduate training and educational outreach programs are carefully designed to mirror NASA MIRO objectives. Our goals include:

  • Enhancing the scientific environment at UC Merced by recruiting and retaining high-caliber faculty and promising graduate students, as well as building facilities for materials science research facilities.

  • Impacting education at UC Merced and beyond by inspiring and training a new generation of STEM workers in a multidisciplinary materials research environment—particularly underrepresented and underprivileged students.

  • Driving research at UC Merced by promoting innovative and collaborative research in functional nanomaterials for energy and sensing for NASA missions and for needs here on Earth.