• Bright Prism
• How to Apply
• BP TeacherGenerated Labs and Resources
• Sample Itinerary of Program
• Montana Tech Engineering Science Lab Presentations in Your Classroom
• How to Schedule a Presentation in My Classroom
• Getting a Montana Tech Mentor for My Students
• Bright Prism Rays
• How to Apply
• Minerals Engineering Careers
• Scholarship Application - STARS
• Bright Prism Attendee Teacher's Science Labs

• Montana Tech
• Future Students
• Current Students

Welcome to the Bright Prism Program for Science and Math Teachers

 

Mission

Find the most talented and enthusiastic high-school science and math teachers (Bright Prisms) and establish a mutually beneficial long-term relationship with them. Provide them with meaningful experiences in minerals engineering venues and follow-up collaboration so that they can confidently inform their best students about Montana Tech and minerals engineering careers. Bright Prism graduates will clearly understand the mining industry's responsibility to provide raw materials, energy and water in an environmentally and socially responsible manner, and they will also understand the responsibility of the world's consumers to make rational and science based decisions in how they use these resources.

 

Goal

The worldwide shortage of high quality minerals engineers for the mining, consulting, construction, and manufacturing industries is acute and it is projected to worsen in the future. To alleviate this shortage Montana Tech will continue to offer a five day short course for high school math and science teachers that includes field trips to exceptional geological sites in Western Montana and to several large operating mines and mills. Geological-, metallurgical-, and mining-engineering education for these teachers will include instruction by Montana Tech's faculty in Tech's engineering labs and at select geological venues within Western Montana, and by professional engineers and geologists at several mine and mill sites. 

 

Attendee Benefit

Each attendee will receive the following at no cost to them:

1. Real-life, hands-on experience and training covering the basic aspects of geological, mining, and metallurgical engineering that they can confidently take that knowledge back to their high-school classrooms. 
2. Professional network contacts with Montana Tech faculty and staff, with other attendees and with mining industry professionals.
3. A $120/day stipend for the 5 days in attendance ($600 total).
4. Three continuing education credits (graduate credits are available at additional cost if desired by attendee) for those producing a high-school, classroom-ready, engineering lab.
5. All food will be supplied where breakfast and dinner will be at the Marcus Deli (Daly) SUB cafeteria.  Lunches will be “tailgate” fix-your-own sandwich on the field trips. An awards dinner will be held on Thursday night at one of areas finest restaurants.  
6. Lodging will be provided in Montana Tech's Centennial Hall dorm.
7. All materials and transportation required in the course.
8.  Ongoing access to the classroom-ready science/math labs, developed by the participants each year. 

 

There are no educational pre-requisites for attendees but they must be either math or science teachers at the high school level.   Because of the diversity of teachers attending the course, all science and engineering concepts and tools will be explained “from the ground up” presuming an understanding of scientific methodology but not necessarily of the subject matter. 

 

Source of Attendees

 

All science or math high school teachers that host a Montana Tech engineering science lab presentation for their students in their classroom (at no cost to themselves or their school) are automatically eligible to be considered as a potential attendee during that year or subsequent years. From these "host" teacher ten attendees are selected each year. These "host" teachers are automatically entered into a list of potential attendees, and no other application is required for them. Teachers who are not able to host a minerals engineering science lab in their classroom can also apply by supplying Tech's Assistant to the Dean for the School of Mines and Engineering with a resume and description of their most recent accomplishments in teaching math and science.

Attendees are responsible for their own transportation to Butte, MT.

 

Bright Prism Rays Program

The success of the Bright Prism teacher program has inspired the Bright Prism Rays student program. This program involves a ten day field training course, mentoring with the Bright Prism teachers, and very significant scholarship funding.