University-based education outreach efforts in the areas of science and engineering are continuing to grow and be refined as their success stories rapidly increase. As we have learned, effective outreach to K-12 schools and the broader community requires an understanding of the K-12 educational system, making a long-term commitment to support and enhance the existing curriculum, training researchers, and meeting our own goals of integrating the excitement of new science and technology into the classroom.

The University of Maryland (UMD) Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) Graduate Teaching Fellows Program (GK-12) is making strides to accomplish these objectives. This paper will be a descriptive overview of the of the UMD GK-12 Program. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of developing viable partnerships, integrating research-based concepts into the curriculum (emphasizing materials science related topics), and training research Fellows to develop the necessary skills to take advantage of their research background and to refine their teaching and communication skills within the scope of informal science and engineering education.