Iowa State University Expands NDE Curriculum
Iowa State University's Center for Nondestructive Evaluation (CNDE) is improving the caliber of the nation's quality and safety inspectors through improvements in educational materials. Nondestructive evaluation methods are used to inspect the internal integrity of a part or material without destroying it. They are used widely in several industries, most notably the airplane industry.
In an effort to upgrade NDE inspection technician education programs, the North Central Collaboration for Education in Nondestructive Evaluation links CNDE and ISU's College of Engineering with four Midwestern community colleges. The program's offerings to community colleges include interactive, computer-based educational materials; summer internships; and scholarships for students and professional development programs for instructors. ISU faculty co-host NDE Engineering Information Days with CNDE researchers, and the College of Engineering has worked with CNDE to establish routes for community college NDE students to transfer to ISU. The collaboration has also produced Internet-based materials aimed at junior and senior high school students to introduce NDE as a career choice and to encourage the study of math and science as preparation for technical careers.
For more information, contact Brian Larson, Iowa Demonstration Laboratory for NDE Applications, (515) 294-8158, or Danelle Baker-Miller, IPRT Public Affairs, (515) 294-5635.