The field of printed electronics (PE) is growing, but there is certainly room for people to learn more about the possibilities. With that in mind, Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication Department is offering a new graduate-level program in printed electronics and functional imaging in January 2014. Course details can be found at http://printedelectronics.calpoly.edu/graduate/details.html.

Malcolm G. Keif, Ph.D. of California Polytechnic State University’s Graphic Communication Department is serving as the coordinator for the graduate certificate program. Dr. Keif said that Cal Poly felt there was a demand in the industry to offer structured education in functional printing.

“For this reason, we developed the online graduate certificate program,” Dr. Keif said. “We felt that it offered something beneficial to working professionals who need education in this emerging field while being able to access that education from anywhere.”

The graduate-level program’s curriculum is designed to help working professionals learn about markets, production processes, materials and business models for printed electronics, active and “intelligent” packaging, security printing and other functional, additive printing applications. Dr. Keif said that graduate certificate program is comprised of five online courses.

“The courses will be offered at least once per year, typically eight weeks in length, so someone can complete the certificate program in 12 months, and possibly even quicker, if the demand is strong enough for more frequent offerings,” Dr. Keif said. “These five courses, worth 18 quarter units, are all instructor-led and designed as university courses, complete with assignments, student interactions, presentations, networking, and instructor interactions. They are graduate level courses, not merely a set of five webinars.”

Dr. Keif said that Cal Poly is also developing a master’s program for printed electronics and functional imaging.

“We also felt the timing was right to propose a Master of Science degree in printed electronics and functional imaging,” Dr. Keif noted. “We will also be offering a 45-unit Master of Science degree as well, subject to the approval of the California State University system, later in the year. We are very close to finalizing that program and should have it operational later in the year. This program will be more traditional in delivery, utilizing Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing model.

“This degree will integrate the five online courses into a comprehensive program of research, requiring residence at Cal Poly,” Dr. Keif reported. “Students will work in our labs designing and producing functional print components and systems. We have several state-of-the-art machines for printing conductive, insulating and reactive fluids. Combined with our 8000 dpi Esko imaging device, we are positioned well for micron-scale production. The master’s degree will culminate in quality research, so students will have ample opportunities to publish and present original research, which will certainly position them well for employment.”

“Having both programs working together allows us to optimize our academic offerings while leveraging some of the benefits of online learning technologies,” he added. “We can provide robust education to working professionals while contributing new knowledge to the field through our graduate level research.”

Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication Department has developed extensive knowledge in the field of PE, and is leveraging its printing experience, faculty, equipment and resources in order to best prepare its graduate students.

“We have a solid reputation in graphic printing, having been in the printing education business for more nearly 70 years,” Dr. Keif said. “We know a lot about controlling and scaling printing technologies. We understand imaging, rheology, morphology and strengths and limitations of printing technologies.

“We have sophisticated equipment here at Cal Poly – literally among the best in North America,” he noted. “Our goal is to strengthen our equipment so that we are better prepared for the next phase of functional printing. We are really at the beginning of the functional printing era, so we plan on being thought leaders in equipment design for the future.

“Our faculty have strong scientific and creative backgrounds,” Dr. Keif added. “We know that products of the future will emerge at the intersection of the liberal arts and science. Our ability to play in both camps helps us envision innovative products for the future… and make them.”

Cal Poly has worked on a number of PE projects and has quite a few successes already, but Dr. Keif said the program has barely scratched the surface of the potential for PE and functional imaging.

“As we ramp up our master’s degree program, we expect to produce much more research,” he said. “To date, we have worked on everything from electroluminescence to printed power cells, to transparent conductive grids, to contact lens sensors. Some of the work involves non-disclosure agreements, but much of what we do is working with other groups and universities on mutually beneficial research. We have projects going on right now with UC Berkeley, Clemson, University of Munich Applied Sciences, as well as a number of well-known companies. We are always looking for projects that we can add value to and we can learn from.”

Dr. Keif said that Cal Poly believes that the future is bright for PE and functional imaging.

“We believe printed electronics, as well as other functional printing markets such as active packaging and security printing, will grow significantly,” he said. “Not necessarily because they are cheaper to produce, but more because of new and novel form factors. We know that printing can be used for rapid prototyping, but printing also enables new substrates and materials as well as new methods of production.

“We see technology being pushed by design and design being pushed by technology,” Dr. Keif concluded. “It is a symbiotic relationship. We are bullish on functional printing and have focused our efforts at the graduate level on printed electronics and functional imaging.”

Applications are due Oct.1, 2013 for classes starting in January 2014. Students must already have a bachelor’s degree to apply. For more information on the program, contact Dr. Keif at (805) 270-5343.