Southwest Indiana STEM Resource Center Grabert named interim director
Allison Grabert ’02 has been named interim director of the Southwest Indiana STEM Resource Center. She was previously science coordinator. Grabert joined USI in 2009.
Summer workshops for K-12 teachers
Visit a mine, re-think fractions, analyze a Super Soaker water gun from an engineering perspective, explore the science and technology used by combat troops—these are the kinds of activities that await K-12 teachers in STEM fields who register for summer SwISTEM workshops. The 2011 lineup includes several workshops that will take place in Pott College facilities and three at the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Crane Division in Crane, Indiana. One of the Crane workshops will involve real-world scenarios and data sets from NSWC Crane to develop projects for use in both high school science and mathematics classes. A complete description of the real-world issue will be presented along with an explanation of how that issue is of national interest. Workshops include stipends or classroom resources for participating teachers. Online registration is available at the SwISTEM Resource Center website. Grabert
Save the date for STEM Educators Conference
The second annual Ohio Valley STEM Educators Conference on November 5 will bring together PreK-16 educators to share new and innovative pedagogical strategies, discover hands-on, inquiry-based activities, and network with fellow STEM educators. The conference will be held in the Science and Education Center at USI. Tours of the Science Center, the Engineering Department, and the campus will be offered. Vendors will exhibit their products and services.
Call for proposals
STEM educators are invited to share ideas for teaching and learning by presenting a conference session. Proposals for presentations or workshops are due June 1. This year’s conference will focus on these strands: embracing technology in the classroom, meeting state standards, utilizing resources for hands-on learning, and sharing best practices in STEM education
Twenty-two teams enter SeaPerch competition
Twenty-two teams representing 12 middle schools and high schools competed in the inaugural Southwest Indiana Regional SeaPerch Competition. Participants designed and built remotely operated underwater vehicles for the competition which took place in the pool at the Physical Activities Center.
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Engineering student Ken Schnautz helps a young SeaPerch competitor launch his underwater vehicle.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)
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Early Undergraduate Research Program
18 freshmen selected forighteen NSF-funded research students majoring in science,
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technology, engineering, or mathematics have been selected for the third class of the Early Undergraduate Research Program. Funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, the program provides two summers of research in Pott College facilities with a faculty mentor as well as an opportunity to continue the relationship during the intervening academic year. The program is designed to engage students interested in STEM fields in hands-on research early in their academic careers. Participants attend weekly seminars to present research updates and learn from guest speakers. They tour area STEM industries on field trips. The program provides students a $3,000 stipend for each summer of participation as well as room and board in campus housing. The following students completing their freshman year begin work with their faculty members in May. • Yena Choi and Brittany Verble— Dr. Brent Summers, biology • Chelsy Calhoun, Joshua Long, and Gavin Norton—Dr. Jeff Thomas, science teaching • Christian Duncheon and Alec Kelley—Dr. Rich Bennett, biology • Eric Dockery—Dr. Brandon Field, engineering • Danielle Eckert—Dr. Marco Lara Gracia, engineering • A lison Konieczki and Sarah Schwartz—Dr. Jeff Seyler, chemistry • William Miller and Joseph Tadros— Dr. Harold McCarron, chemistry • Meghann Reardon and Craig Roberts—Dr. Landon Moore, biology • Eric Tepool—Dr. Eric McCloud, biology • Aaron Williams—Dr. Glen Kissel, engineering • Louis Volz—Dr. Julian Davis, engineering Eighteen students who began the research program last summer will return for their second and final summer in the program. University of Southern Indiana