Educational Outreach and Social Sciences Programs
The social science research
program has two main foci: understanding and enhancing STC-related innovation
processes and exploring barriers and facilitators in collaboration.
Understanding and enhancing
STC-related innovation processes (28)
The main objective of this effort is to identify organizational,
managerial and other factors that contribute to scientific, technological and
educational success in STCs and similar organizations, and to use these
findings to improve operations and performance of the CERSP.
This objective is being met via three subprojects: (1) survey-feedback research with various CERSP stakeholder groups; (2) STC best practice analyses; and (3) research on industry technology transfer. All three subprojects are underway. Survey feedback research with CERSP stakeholders began with a questionnaire administered to industry members of the Kenan Center for the Utilization of CO2 in Manufacturing (Kenan Center) in April 2000. Data are currently being summarized and will be submitted to Kenan Center management shortly. Preliminary findings suggest that the Kenan Center is already functioning at a high level but some suggestions for improvement will be made. Instrument development for best practices analyses is currently underway and should be completed by August. Telephone interviews with STC directors should begin shortly thereafter. Literature review of factors that affect technology transfer from centers to industry is in process. Work that helped lay the foundation for this effort was presented at the “Triple Helix International Conference” in Rio de Janeiro. Work on this subproject should be accelerated with the arrival of a post doc in mid-October.
A secondary objective is to
assist center management in coordination of education and human resource
development, social science research and center management activities. Gray has served as an active member of the
CERSP management team and has provided advice on management issues during
weekly management meetings.
During the past nine months primary research tasks include the development of data collection instruments and use of these instruments to collect baseline data to enable us to develop an understanding of collaboration currently among CERSP participants. For example, we developed a paper-based and web-based sociometric survey to collect data on who interacts with whom, how they interact and what they interact about. We had 65% participation by CERSP personnel. The survey also collects data on previous interactions to help us identify previous factors that may influence current and future collaborations. These data are currently being analyzed. We have also begun observing and recording thrust group management meetings to learn how collaborative projects within each thrust area are developing.
In addition, we worked with
technical staff at each participating university to set up weekly group
videoconferences. At these meetings,
general information about the CERSP is shared and students and post-docs
present their research for discussion. This has been the key mechanism to begin
communication among CERSP participants. The videoconferences support n-way
interaction among UNC-CH, NCSU, NC A&T and UT-Austin. They are open to all CERSP participants
(faculty, students, post-docs and staff.)
Fifteen videoconferences have been held. Our team has observed each
videoconference and taken notes regarding interactions. (These conferences are
also recorded for future data analysis.)
Based on our observations, we have consulted with technical staff at
participating universities and with CERSP participants regarding ways to make
the videoconferences more effective.
This is an example of how we are integrating research and education;
students and technical staff are learning ways to improve the effectiveness of
video conferencing based on our research. Another outcome of the observation of
the videoconferences has been the development of a set of guidelines—Reflecting on the Interactive, Distributed
Group Meetings—which were distributed and posted on our website.
We see the videoconferences to be successful in a number
of ways: 1) They have allowed participants at A&T, NCSU, UT-Austin and
UNC-CH to share information, see connections across research thrusts, and learn
about the latest available tools and techniques. There are a number of specific
examples where members of one research project have been able to save others'
time and effort by making them aware of previous research or ongoing CERSP
research. 2) They have allowed
considerable savings in time and cost by avoiding participants’ driving from
one place to another on alternate weeks, and allowing UT-Austin to actively
participate. 3) They have allowed us to
learn about limitations of the current technical set-up at the various
sites. This will guide equipment
upgrades and will eventually lead to future technology improvements. 4) They
have allowed us to learn about limitations of the norms of interaction during
research presentations and to work toward developing new norms that aim toward
achieving the synergy across thrust areas and research projects that are the
aim of the CERSP. In short, we see that
the participants are beginning to develop a community of practice.
We
intend to build upon this by managing knowledge about expertise and offering
other technological approaches (e.g., small group meetings) to enable
participants to meet and work as needed to deal with cross-cutting problems and
issues. For example, web pages have
been constructed that include personal web pages for each CERSP member and
informational web pages about CERSP meetings and activities. To assist center management
in coordination of education and human resource development, social science
research and center management activities, Sonnenwald has served as an integral
member of the management team.
K-12 Outreach from the Science & Technology
Center (29) A K-12 web site has been
developed and is linked to the Center’s main site. Great care has been taken to make this site user friendly and
very understandable for teachers and students in the K-12 community. This site contains descriptions and
explanations of the basic research and thrust areas of the Center. Educational material on the nature and properties
of carbon dioxide are included.
Hands-on activities that relate to carbon dioxide are included from Countertop
Chemistry, a publication written by The Science House. These activities include: “dancing
spaghetti”, zip-top bag chemistry, fire extinguishment using CO2, gas producing
reactions, and cabbage juice indicator.
An additional segment called “How Much Carbon Dioxide is in a Bottle of
Soda?” shows how to measure the amount of CO2 in a soft drink. This site also includes some frequently
asked questions that teachers and students have about carbon dioxide as well as
some of the everyday uses for CO2.
There is a section for teachers that shows how the scientific research
of the Center fits into the N.C. Standard Course of Study. Center faculty and students have had active
input in designing this site and will continue to do so. We will add learning material, information
about the Center, and records of K-12 outreach activities to the site on a
weekly basis.
Significant progress has been made to develop learning modules that can be distributed in the K-12 arena. A lab book/activity guide is currently under development. This book will be appropriate for a new Earth/Environmental science course that all NC high school students must take beginning in the fall of 2000. This book will also be appropriate for similar environmental and physical science courses in Texas and nationwide. Activities that relate to the work and research of the Center and match the National Science Standards are being located and tested. This is being accomplished with the help of graduate students as well as former and current high school science teachers. Activities that have been located to this point include:
* “Sparkling Water” and “Sum of the Parts” from Project WET, a
nationally distributed water education guide for teachers.
* “Environmental Health Risks” and “Parts Per Million” from the
Science Education for Public Understanding Program (SEPUP) at the Lawrence Hall
of Science, published by LAB-AIDS, and funded in part by the National Science
Foundation.
* “Cleaning Ability of Soap and Detergent” and “Exploring Different
Solutions” from the Chemical Education for Public Understanding Program (CEPUP)
at the Lawrence Hall of Science, published by LAB-AIDS, and funded in part by
the National Science Foundation.
* “Pollutants” and “Clean Clothes” from the Water Sourcebook,
published by the Water Environment Federation in cooperation with the
Environmental Protection Agency.
DMAX Printing will publish this book. It will be a spiral bound book of approximately 80 pages, very similar in appearance to the recently published “Real World Cases in Green Chemistry” guide from the American Chemical Society. The 10-12 activities that will make up this module have been chosen. The introduction and closure of this book will focus on the reasons it was developed and will promote research supported by the NSF STCERSP. This book will be distributed beginning in the fall semester of 2000. Plans are to send a copy to every high school in NC and to distribute it through outreach partners at the four Center universities.
Another significant
accomplishment is the involvement of faculty and students in K-12 outreach
opportunities. Opportunities are being
made available for Center members to speak to both teachers and students. In March of 2000 J. M. DeSimone, R. J.
Spontak and six graduate students from NCSU and UNC spoke to a group of middle
school girls at the Expanding Your Horizons conference hosted at NC State. This annual conference focuses on hands-on
talks designed to excite these girls in career areas of math and science. The graduate students presented two talks
focused on the use of carbon dioxide in science entitled “Polymers” and
“Engineering a Better World”. Students
from NC State’s Imhotep Academy also participated in a hands-on lesson
presented by one of the Center’s faculty during their annual summer camp in
June 2000. Imhotep is a program
designed to focus on the math and science education of minority and female students.
All of these programs focused on promoting math, science, and technology
learning for underrepresented groups.
Keith Johnston spoke on CERSP for chemical processes to 42 high school
juniors in the UT-A Minority Introduction to Engineering Program. These outstanding students from throughout
the state of Texas are being recruited by UT-A.
Other outreach accomplishments during the past year include the development of educational field trips. A field trip format for students and groups to visit Hangers, a dry cleaning chain that uses liquid carbon dioxide for cleaning, has been developed and tested. The students involved in the previously mentioned Imhotep program participated in one of the first tours of a Hangers facility during June 2000. Introductory material used in conjunction with this trip will be videotaped and provided to teachers leading the field trips. The field trip format will be refined and distributed to sites where Hangers are located in North Carolina, Nebraska, and Rhode Island.
An inventory of existing outreach and collaborative
opportunities at Center campuses is underway.
Some of the programs that have been identified for collaboration
include:
* The Imhotep Academy of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at NC
State
* Science on the Road – a demonstration program of The Science
House at NC State
* Minority Introduction to Engineering at the University of Texas
at Austin
* The Community College Summer Bridge Program at the University of
Texas at Austin
K-12 Outreach Activities Conducted by Center Members
K. L. Roberts served as
Member of the E.E. Smith High School Academy of Mathematics and Science
Advisory Board, Cumberland County, Fayetteville, NC. He also served as Role Model for the Greensboro, NC, Black Child
Development Institute "Entering the College Zone" Program. DeSimone
students talked to B.E. Jordan Elementary students about the NSF/STC. S. L. Wallen participated as preceptor for
three female students during Summer 2000:
NSF Pre-College Research Experience Program; ACS SEED Program; and UNC SMART Program
Environmentally
Responsible Solvents and Processes Outreach Program (31) The objectives of this
effort are to: (1) initiate outreach program for minority and underrepresented
groups; (2) initiate summer internships
for undergraduate students at A&T; and (3) develop plans for an
international conference on Environmentally Responsible Solvents and Processes.