The CERSP seeks to use the educational process at all levels to build support for implementation of “green chemistry”.  Our initial focus is on collaboration and innovation because these are of global importance, typically are not taught in academic programs, and are undergoing change and transformation in today’s world.  We seek to provide a new generation of students with both the technical and social tools to effect this transition. Specifically our objectives are to:

            We’re supporting internships to encourage undergraduates and high school students to choose scientific careers. These programs are heavily weighted towards historically underrepresented segments of society. 

2006
During 2006 thirteen undergraduate and two high school students received a challenging and educational summer research experience sponsored by CERSP 

·        Some 1010 interns applied for internships through the joint NSF STC recruitment site.

A new REU proposal was submitted by CERSP partner, NC State University, and was awarded.  Six of the students listed below were funded by this REU.

UNC Activities                                                                                     Target Date 2006

Welcome Luncheon (Spanky’s Restaurant)                                             May 22

Safety Overview                                                                                          May 22

Orientation                                                                                                   May 22

Entrepreneurs’ Sessions (Desimone/Carbonell)                                    June 13

Industrial Tours (Glaxo Smith Kline)                                                          June 20

Tour of New Science Complex                                                                  July 7

Intern Group Meetings                                                                                 Weekly

CERSp Videoconference Group Meetings                                             Weekly

Final Presentations                                                                                     July 19

Exit Interviews                                                                                              July 19

Awards Luncheon                                                                                        July 21

NCSU REUs Activities                                                                          Target Date 2006

Campus Laboratory Safety Orientation                                                    June 2

Welcome Reception for students and mentors -                                     June 2

Group Picnic at Michael Paesler's home                                                June 2

Research Ethics Symposium      

Natural History Museum behind the scene tour –                                   June 17

Trips to CISCO, EPA, GlaxoSmithKline, etc –       

Beach day trip on Saturday                                                                       July 1

Picnic with fireworks at Fairgrounds                                                        July 4

Hiking Umstead Park –                         

Poster Training Sessions –         

Durham Bulls Game –-                                                                              July 7

GRE Workshops              –

Prof. Darlene Taylor, RICHES Director and leader of our summer program, met the summer interns weekly.  She had each of them to discuss with the group their research progress.  This appeared to be an excellent means to build continuity, community and to identify problems promptly, before they became disruptive. 

* Project SEED

# EXPERT Student from NCA&T

Exit interviews were held with summer interns at UNC-CH.  A summary of comments is given in the following table.  All of the students said that the experience interested them in graduate school or medical research for the first time or reinforced their interest.  A summary is given below in the Table.

Table  2006 Summer Program Exit Interview Summary

Ø      Administrative issues

o       Salary issues adequately explained except withholding requirements

o       Could salary be increased for more experienced students?

o       No food in dorms on weekends, an inconvenience

o       Locate away from summer sports camp participants

o       Parking is expensive; can we provide or recommend options?

o       They claim they did not receive abstracts of videoconferences beforehand; are they on our normal distribution list?

Ø      Orientation

o       Overall good.  Might include more about the STC and website

Lab and safety (plus video) very good.  Having individual mentors helped

Ø      Planning

o       Initial planning sessions good; expectations clear

o       Could have better informed and trained mentors beforehand

o       All interns felt assignments were appropriate for their interests and abilities

Ø      Entrepreneurship

o       Excellent.  Even those not interested in doing it themselves were interested to see  how things work

o       Unlike previous years, most students were aware of such activities.

Ø      GlaxoSmithKline tour

o       Mixed.  Most felt that presentations were interesting but lab tours were too long, with too much time spent on seeing instruments they already knew about. They would have preferred seeing an actual plant. Perhaps we should consider inquiring about Stockhausen in Greensboro.   

Ø      Weekly intern meetings

o       These and group meetings were more meaningful and useful than Thursday videoconferences, which lacked enough background to be useful

o       Should be scheduled on Tuesday (or some day other than Thursday)

o       Should have fewer speakers or perhaps share reporting

Ø      Thursday CERSP

o       Poor.  Most felt they were a waste of time except when members of their group spoke.  Would rather spend the time in the lab. They did not have the background to understand content.

o       On the other hand, as everyone else was in the videoconference they didn’t think it would be a good idea for them to be in the labs alone.

Ø      General comments

o       Probably not appropriate for high school (at least not at rising junior level)

·        Starts too early (they’re still in school)

·        Don’t have the background

o       Interest in graduate school increased for undergrads

·        Confirmed interest for those unsure

o       Ten weeks about right to complete lab project with all of the external activities

o       Mentors were excellent!

o       Would have liked more social activities (UNC-CH group, NC State okay)

2004

2001