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CINSAM Annual
Report 2002-2003 |
The Center for Integrative Natural Science and Mathematics
is designated by the Council on Post Secondary Education
as the Regional University Excellence Trust Fund
Program of Distinction at
Northern Kentucky University,
Highland Heights, Kentucky.
This Center is funded through the Regional University Excellence Trust Fund
that was established by the
Kentucky Post Secondary Education Improvement Act of 1997
This Center is able to supplement these Commonwealth funds with University funds and outside resources such as donations from private and cooperate trust funds as well as successful authorship of research grants and service proposals to agencies and foundations.
INTRODUCTION
The Center for Integrative Natural Science and Mathematics (CINSAM) is not a degree-granting program, but rather a program that coordinates activities in outreach, teaching, and research across the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics and Geology, in the Northern Kentucky University College of Arts and Sciences and the institution’s College of Education.
Established by Kentucky’s Council on Post-Secondary Education as the Program of Distinction at Northern Kentucky University, CINSAM is dedicated to enhancing teaching, learning, and application of science and mathematics at all educational levels throughout the region.
It prepares outstanding future teachers by promoting integrative science courses and by providing opportunities for collaboration among education, science, and mathematics faculty and their students at all grade levels from pre-school to college graduate.
CINSAM is involved with area science and mathematics alliances between and among teachers, pre-service teachers, college faculty member, and industry scientists, and engineers. It provides workshops and courses led by NKU faculty for elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers as well as on-campus and off-campus learning experiences and programs for their students.
CINSAM scholarships, a broad range of integrative science courses, externships in business and industry, and research opportunities help develop students capable of handling complex interdisciplinary problems in school, in the workforce, and in their own lives.
The public gains an improved understanding of science and mathematics through CINSAM-sponsored symposia, guest speakers, faculty lectures, tours, and other presentations.
CINSAM’s unique mission is advanced across disciplines; among students, teachers, and the private and public sectors; and around teaching, learning, and creative thinking.
Outreach to Teachers
During the CINSAM reporting year, 01 August 2003 to 31 July 2004, a variety of events and activities were offered by CINSAM to teachers. These engaged teachers from Pre-school through grade 12 as well as many faculty members at NKU and Thomas More College along with professionals from the community. A total of 775 teachers from the P - 12 grade levels participated in one or more of these events and activities during the year. Whereas most of these teachers had, as their primary responsibility, the teaching of topics in the various fields of science and mathematics, the participation was not restricted to these subject matter areas. All were events and activities were planned with the needs for improved learning in the class room relative to the Kentucky Core Content dictates.
• CINSAM Night: September 10, 2003
Two hundred teachers, administrators and others participated in activities and workshops designed and delivered by the nine alliances sponsored by CINSAM as well as a keynote address by Karen Kidwell from the Kentucky Department of Education. Ms. Kidwell spoke on “Science and Math in Kentucky.”
• Alliances: August 2003 through July 2004
CINSAM sponsors nine alliances that deal with mathematics and science. These alliance team NKU faculty members with teachers by discipline and/or grade levels. These alliances held a combined total of 20 workshops for P-12 teachers with an average attendance of 20 per session for approximately 400 total. Through the following activities, CINSAM was able to provide professional development opportunities to approximately 740 P-12 teachers during fall 2003 and spring 2004. Individual alliance activities are listed below:
Biology:
— Initial Planning Meeting - CINSAM Night
— Co-sponsored “Writing in the Science Classroom” Workshop
Elementary Math/Science Education Alliance members discuss teaching strategies at a recent CINSAM Night.
Chemistry:
— Initial Planning Meeting-CINSAM Night
— Workshop on “Density Driven Ocean Circulation”
— Co-sponsored “Writing in the Science Classroom” Workshop
— A “Molecular Modeling Workshop”
— A joint meeting with the Chemical Educators Discussion Group
— A “Using Toys in the Classroom” Workshop
Computer Science:
— Initial Planning Meeting-CINSAM Night
— Organizational Meeting
— Dr. Richard Fox did a presentation on “Artificial Intelligence”
Earth/Space:
— Initial Planning Meeting-CINSAM Night
— Field trip to Split Rock Geologic Area
— Co-sponsored “Writing in the Science Classroom” Workshop
Elementary Math/Science:
— Initial Planning Meeting-CINSAM Night
— Dr. Ed Burger “Magic with Mathematics” Lecture sponsored jointly with NKCTM and the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
— Co-sponsored “Writing in the Science Classroom” Workshop
— Co-sponsored the K-5 “Integrating Math and Science for HOT P-5” Workshop with NKCTM
— Co-sponsored NKCTM and Elementary Math/Science Alliance Spring Meeting:
“P-2 “Navigations” and “Mentoring Mathematical Minds”
Environmental Education:
— Initial Planning Meeting-CINSAM Night
— Field trip to Sanitation District #1-“Journey of a Drop of Water”
— Co-sponsored “Writing in the Science Classroom” Workshop
— Resource Fair: “Get On Board With Your Environmental Education Trunks”
Math (Northern Kentucky Council of Teachers of Mathematics-NKCTM):
— Initial Planning Meeting-CINSAM Night
— Dr. Ed Burger “Magic with Mathematics” Lecture sponsored with Elementary Math/Science Alliance and the Department of Mathematics & Computer Science
— Co-sponsored Kentucky Council of Teachers of Mathematics Fall Conference
— Sponsored “Writing Open Response Questions in Mathematics” Workshop
— Co-sponsored the K-5 “Integrating Math and Science for HOT P-5”
Workshop with the Elementary Math/Science Alliance
— Co-sponsored the NKCTM and Elementary Math/Science Alliance Spring Meeting:
“P-2 “Navigations” and “Mentoring Mathematical Minds”
Middle School Science:
— Initial Meeting-CINSAM Night
— Co-sponsored “Writing in the Science Classroom” Workshop
— Joint meeting with the Physics Alliance on Middle School Physics Topics
— Joint meeting with the Physics Alliance on Planning a Middle School
Teacher Workshop on Physics
Physics:
— Initial Meeting-CINSAM Night
— Low-Tech Demos for Middle, High School Teachers, and College Teachers
— Co-sponsored “Writing in the Science Classroom” Workshop
— Calculator and Computer-based labs for High School Teachers
— “Show and Tell” in the Science Center Education Resource Lab for
Middle, High School, College Teachers
— Joint meeting with the Middle School Science Alliance on Physics Topics
— Joint meeting with the Middle School Science Alliance on
Planning a Middle School Teacher Workshop on Physics
This was a one-week, intensive study chemistry workshop for high school teachers. The goal of the workshop was to enhance a science teacher’s knowledge of using chemical demonstrations, participating in hands-on laboratory activities and meeting National Education Science Standards for chemistry. The workshop hours were from 8:30 in the morning to 3:30 or 4:00 in the afternoon. The workshop consisted of over forty demonstrations and dozens of hands-on lab activities and a make-and-take session. Safety issues, microscale techniques, innovative teaching methods were stressed. Participant sharing sessions provided opportunities for each teacher to share chemical demonstrations and favorite activities with the group. Education credit and limited on-site housing were available. Each participant received a notebook full of materials to use in the classroom. The workshop was led by three nationally-recognized high school chemistry teachers: Bob Lewis, John Little and George Gross; Dr. W. Vernon Hicks, NKU Department of Chemistry, was the faculty host; and Betty Stephens served as the coordinator. Forty high school teachers from as far away as California and Idaho attended the workshop; however, the majority was from Kentucky and Ohio. The participant evaluations were outstanding. CINSAM provided $4500 as matching funds. Flinn personnel visited the workshop, and were and were very impressed with our facilities; one told the participants that this was “as good as it gets.”
• Writing in the Science Classroom: December 10, 2003
Ninety-three P-12 teachers took part in a workshop on writing in the science classroom for the writing portfolio. Reeda Hart, retired elementary teacher from Campbell County, Connie Pohlgeers, Campbell County, and Jamee Cox Barton, Madison County, presented sessions at elementary, middle and high school levels, respectively. Kentucky Core Content in Science was emphasized.
• South Counties Science Project: January through July 2004
This project was designed specifically for the six counties (Bracken, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Owen, and Pendleton) south of Northern Kentucky University. The project is a three-year effort with the first year concentrating on fourth grade teachers and students. Professional development in how to implement and use “Inquiry Based Science” was presented by Reeda Hart, with help from Dr. Dale Elifrits and Betty Stephens of CINSAM. Approximately 25 fourth-grade teachers were involved this year. The second year will add third- and fifth-grade teachers to the project and the final year will add the middle school grade teachers. All activities deal with the Kentucky Core Content in Science.
• Writing Open Response Questions in Math: March 10, 2004
Methods for writing open response questions in mathematics were presented by Tom Stull from Ludlow High School. Tom is a member of the state writing team. There were 20 high school teachers involved. The emphasis was on the Kentucky Core Content in Mathematics.
Outreach to Students
During the CINSAM reporting year, 01 August 2003 to 31 July 2004, a variety of events and activities were offered by CINSAM for students. These engaged students from Pre-school through grade 12 as well as many faculty members at NKU and Thomas More College along with professionals from the community. A total of 3,700 students from the P - 12 grade levels participated in one or more of these events and activities during the year. The topics for these activities and events generally came from the various fields of science and mathematics and applications of these to everyday life. All of these events and activities were planned with the needs for improved learning in the class room relative to the Kentucky Core Content dictates.
Outreach activities to students and schools
CINSAM sponsored numerous programs throughout the year to provide outreach to area schools and students. Notable among these efforts were:
• Middle School Math Day: November 21, 2003
Three hundred eighth-grade students from Augusta Independent, Sharp Middle School, Grant County Middle School, Bracken County Middle School, Williamstown High
School, Bloom Middle School, Gallatin County Middle School, and St. Augustine School
participated. Dr. Maggie McGatha from the College of Education and 40 of her pre-service
teachers provided activity centers for the students. Breakout sessions were provided by
Dr. Dale Elifrits, Dr. Andy Long, Dr. David Agard, Dr. Linda Sheffield, and Dr. Phillip Schmidt of the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education. All activities were “hands on” and dealt with the Kentucky Core Content in Mathematics.
Sharp Middle School students listen to lessons taught to them by NKU faculty members who visited the school.
• Pendleton County: November 25, 2003
One hundred eighth-grade students and their teachers from Sharp Middle School in Pendleton County were on campus to participate in “hands-on” science activities dealing with the Kentucky Core Content in Science, campus tours, and a meeting with admissions representatives. Activities were presented by faculty members from the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Elementary Science Day: March 5, 2004
Three hundred fourth-graders from Northern Elementary and Southern Elementary in Pendleton County, Taylor Elementary and St. Augustine School in Bracken County, as well as Mason-Corinth Elementary and Williamstown Elementary in Grant County attended Elementary Science Day on the NKU campus. Dr. Anjana Arora of the College of Education along with her pre-service students conducted “hands on” science activity centers. Dr. Tom Sproat, Dr.Vern Hicks, Dr. Denice Robertson and Dr. Janet Bertog of the College of Arts and Sciences, Rajeev Swami of the College of Education, along with D.J. Scully of the Campbell County Extension Office, Heather Mayfield, researcher for the Sierra Club, and Reeda Hart all presented breakout sessions. All sessions were centered around the Kentucky Core Content for fourth grade.
• Judging Area Science Fairs January 2004 through April 2004
CINSAM helped provide judges for eight area science fairs at elementary and middle school grade levels.
• Pendleton County Science Day: April 16, 2004
“Hands-on” science activities dealing with the Kentucky Core Content for the fourth grade were presented at Northern Elementary in Pendleton County by fourth grade students from both Northern and Southern Elementary Schools. This project was the culminating project for these two schools as part of the CINSAM South Counties Science Project. The 200 fourth-graders were directed in their efforts by their nine teachers. The activities were presented to each other and guests. The schools were aided in their effort by Dr. Dale Elifrits and Betty Stephens from CINSAM and Reeda Hart.
• Bracken County Science Day: April 23, 2004
“Hands-on” science activities dealing with the Kentucky Core Content for fourth-grade were presented at Taylor Elementary in Bracken County by fourth-grade students from Taylor Elementary. This project was the culminating project for this school as part of the CINSAM South Counties Science Project. The 100 fourth-graders were directed in their efforts by their four teachers. The activities were presented to each other and guests. The schools were aided in their effort by Dr. Dale Elifrits and Betty Stephens from CINSAM and Reeda Hart.
• Geology Outreach Program for Schools: February 2004 through April 2004
Activities in Geology, Earth/Space Science were taken to approximately 80 P-eighth-grade classrooms throughout Boone, Kenton, and Campbell Counties, reaching approximately 2100 students and their approximately 80 teachers. This program was conducted by Dr. Janet Bertog of the Department of Physics and Geology and her students.
First Lego League State Competition January 10, 2004 CINSAM co-sponsored this event, the first to be held in Kentucky, with support from Toyota, the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, TRI-ED, and iSPACE. Two hundred middle school student participated in this “Mission to Mars” competition, which included interviews with student teams about their research and programs as well as a demonstration of the robotics constructed to solve engineering problems presented to the teams. More than 600 students, parents, coaches, teachers and volunteers participated in the day-long competition. This included more than 70 professionals from such organizations as Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America as judges, coaches, and other technical support roles.
North Area Counties of Kentucky Exposition of Science: March 20, 2004
CINSAM continued in its fourth year as a major sponsor and host for the regional science fair. In 2003-04, the event underwent substantial changes. Owing to the success the fair in the past three years, schools in the central area of Kentucky opted to organize a new regional fair more central to their location and one was formed under the auspices of the University of Kentucky.
The North and Central Kentucky Exposition of Science (NACKES) was reorganized as the North Area Counties of Kentucky Exposition of Science. Although this split reduced the number of counties in its region from 45 to 30, and resulted in the loss of some schools that traditionally had sent large numbers of entries to the regional competition, student participation in NACKES remained strong and schools who previously had not participated were sending entries. The 2004 event had 189 students participate (2003 had 230 students), including an appreciable increase (20 students in 2004 vs. 12 in 2003) in secondary schools. In addition to hosting the event, CINSAM also worked with local educators in helping organize school science fairs and assisting in the recruitment of judges.
NACKES ambitiously pursued increased funding since winners from the 2004 fair were eligible to attend the International Science and Engineering Fair in Portland Oregon, and transportation, registration, and lodging needed to be funded. NACKES was successful in this endeavor, and its participants gleaned a number of special awards as well as a third-place overall award in the Physics category.
NACKES continues to offer students the opportunity to pursue their own scientific interests and learn proper scientific procedures and methods in the process. CINSAM also helped to involve many NKU faculty and science professionals in the community in the leadership and operation of this event. NACKES continued to offer resources and programs for local science teachers to assist them in preparing their students for higher levels of science competition outside their own schools.
Special activities and summer offerings
In response to demand by the community, CINSAM prepared and expanded programs for area students and teachers during 2003-2004. These activities were aimed at outreach for area students and teachers.
Latino/Multicultural Science Camp: June 7-11, 2004
A first-time endeavor aimed at local high school students with Hispanic heritage, this week-long camp held in June gave students an overview of astronomy, chemistry, physics, biology and genetics. The project was coordinated by Dr. Miriam Kannan, Department of Biological Sciences. There were 12 participants.
Game Programming in Java: June 14-July 9, 2004
High school students were able to attend a four-week summer workshop designed to introduce and explore the logic and strategies used in computer game programming. In particular, students learned about the Java programming language and such topics as Java syntax, graphics and other useful objects, data structures for computer games, heuristics and search strategies, and network communications. Twenty students learned computer game logic and how to design and implement programs that involved computer graphics and network communications. Workshop topics included: principles of computer games (graphical layouts, data structures, heuristics and search); concepts of graphics programming, event driven programming; and programming with sounds and images. Dr. Richard Fox, Mathematics and Computer Science coordinated the camp.
GEAR-UP: June 21-25, 2004
For the first time, CINSAM sponsored a residential summer activity for area students June 21-25, 2004. CINSAM contracted with Kentucky GEAR UP to conduct a science-oriented camp to serve 15 students recruited from high schools with large “at-risk” populations, both in urban (Covington, Kentucky) and rural (Carlisle, Kentucky) areas of the state. The group was housed in NKU’s Residence Halls. Accompanied by two teachers and NKU science majors, and led by Dr. Tom Sproat of NKU’s Department of Biological Sciences, the group participated in a soil study for Big Bone Lick State Park. The group traveled each day to the park in Union, Kentucky, and received “on-the-job” instruction in testing methods, site studies, experiment design, and recording results. Their work was augmented by a visit to the Cincinnati Museum Center where in addition to the public displays, they were given a “behind the scenes” tour and met with scientists engaged in research there. The students maintained a highly structured schedule developed to provide opportunities for enrichment and discussion topics even during leisure time and kept journals of their activities. At the conclusion of the camp, they gave presentations and posters on their findings. It is planned that interested students will maintain contact and participate as student mentors in future endeavors with CINSAM and the GEAR-UP program.
Sports Plus: June 28-July 16, 2004
NKU traditionally has made available slots in its popular sports camps for at-risk students. To enhance their experience, an enrichment segment of the camp has been available and CINSAM worked with Intercollegiate Athletics this year to make sure these activities had sound academic and scientific application. The students met criteria as outlined by the Free/Reduced Lunch Program and were recommended by their schools or community agencies. Students came from both Northern Kentucky and Southern Ohio.
To that end, the 88 Sports Plus participants —fourth through eighth graders— attended one-week sports camps plus another week’s worth of enrichment activities to build bodies and minds. Students took part in programs such as “Sports for Scientists” and “Athletics by the Numbers” taught by NKU faculty members Dr. Andy Long, Mathematics and Computer Science, and Dr. Ricardo Rademacher, Physics and Geology, and structured to show the relevance of science in successful competition and in health. They also attended sessions in music, art, and lifetime sports.
NKU-CSI: July 12-14, 2004
Building upon the highly successful program first presented in summer 2003, CINSAM presented two sections of the “NKU-CSI Forensics Camp.” The first session was open to middle school students and in the context of staged “crime scenes,” exposed students to the scientific principles inherent in investigative techniques including: DNA testing, computer science in face recognition, NMR use, application of physics in accident reconstructions, and chemical tests in identifying blood, ink differences, and presence of potentially toxic substances. This camp was one week long and conducted by Dr. Dale Elifrits and Betty Stephens from CINSAM with help from Dr. Hazel Barton of the NKU Biology Department, Dr. Chris Lorenz of the Thomas More Biology Department as well as Dr. Vern Hicks and Dr. Vinay Kumar of the NKU Department of Chemistry, Dr. Scott Nutter of the NKU Department of Physics and Geology, and Dr. Mark Marsolais and Jill Shelley of the NKU Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice as well as eight area middle school teachers. Forty-four middle school students attended.
NKU-CSI II: July 19-23
The second session (CSI II) was open to CSI “alumni” from 2003 and first-year high school students who studied aspects of forensic anthropology, anatomy, and forensic entomology and toured the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office crime lab.
This camp also lasted a week and 20 seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders attended. Dr. Dale Elifrits and Betty Stephens from CINSAM conducted the camp with help Dr. Greg Dahlem of the NKU Department of Biological Sciences, Dr. John Filaseta from the NKU Department of Physics and Geology, and Dr. Mark Marsolais and Jill Shelley of the NKU Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice.
The camps were structured with NKU faculty leading various sessions and assisted by teachers from area schools. In some cases, individuals with professional expertise in their fields also participated in sessions, and students had the opportunity to interact with University faculty and use equipment and technology that they would not normally be exposed to in their own schools and with which some college undergraduates might not be familiar. As in 2003, the 2004 NKU-CSI camps garnered media coverage.
Other Outreach Programs for
Teachers and Students Together
CINSAM Summer Workshops for Teachers
• CSI Teacher Workshop: July 7-9, 2004
This workshop was conducted over a three-day period to train middle school teachers who were going to work in the two Forensic Science Camps. Ideas were presented that could be taken back to their classrooms. The CINSAM staff and the NKU faculty involved in the camps described above were involved in the training of the twelve middle school teachers.
• Gallatin County “Hands-On” Science Workshop: July 27, 2004
This workshop was part of our ongoing South Counties Project and was conducted by Reeda Hart for 20 to 25 elementary school teachers.
“Education Issues”
In fall 2003, Betty Stephens, Outreach Coordinator for CINSAM, appeared with Dr. Jon Draud on his ICN-6 cable television show, “Education Issues.” The outreach to P-12 schools in the areas of mathematics and science sponsored by CINSAM was the topic of discussion.
In the spring of 2004, Betty Stephens, along with Reeda Hart, again appeared on “Education Issues.” CINSAM’s outreach to the six counties lying to the south of NKU was the topic of discussion. At that time, CINSAM’s plans for summer camps was also discussed.
Improving Educational Quality (IEQ) Grant Project Participation
In 2003-2004, a project entitled “Planting Seeds, Cultivating Clusters: Strengthening Middle Grade Mathematics” was submitted for a Council on Postsecondary Education/Department of Education Improving Educator Quality (IEQ) Grant. NKU involvement included Dr. Linda Sheffield, Regents Professor, College of Education as Principal Investigator, Dr. Phil Schmidt, Director of CINSAM and Dr. Christopher N. Lorentz, Associate Professor of Biology, Thomas More College, as Co-Principal Investigators, and numerous other NKU faculty members and staff members as participants in delivery of the programs. A complete copy of this report is available from the Principal Investigator. This grant was awarded to a team of College of Education Faculty members and the Director of the Center for Integrative Natural Science and Mathematics (CINSAM). It was operated in conjunction with CINSAM and used some CINSAM staff members as parts of the staffing and staging efforts for the various programs
“Planting Seeds” serves as evidence of not only the work of the various parties outside CINSAM, but also as evidence of the cross-college and cross-discipline effort of CINSAM over the past years. The project brought together NKU, CINSAM, Thomas More College, the Northern Kentucky Educational Cooperative, and the P-16 Council of Partners with the goal of improving core content knowledge and skills of middle grades science and math teachers in area partner schools, strengthen leadership support for these programs and increase opportunities for advancements in high-level programs for students. Activities included a train-the-trainer for 20 teachers from area schools, training for principals and other administrators to help them become stronger leaders and evaluate math and science teaching, and summer math and science workshops for 88 students from 22 schools. Titles of sessions included: “Math Games,” “Dynamic Geometry,” “Chemistry,” “Motion and Energy Physics,” “Awesome Algebra,” “Analyze This: Understanding Data and Statistics,” “Observatory Night,” “Water and Ecology,” “Interdisciplinary Science: A Ticket to Space.”
Internships
CINSAM continued in its mission to place undergraduates in career-building opportunities in local organizations, businesses, and industries.
Five NKU Geology and Environmental Science students were funded by CINSAM to work as interns with the Cincinnati Museum Center during the 2003-2004 academic year. Their responsibilities as interns were to assist the museum professional staff on three large-scale paleontological research studies that the museum is sponsoring. Student involvement on these projects included preparation and restoration of dinosaur (Diplodocus) bones from the Mother’s Day Site in Montana, sediment sorting and cataloging of micro-vertebrate fossils for a paleoclimatological study at the Sheridan Cave Site in northern Ohio and classification of Carboniferous age fossils from a site in Hancock County, Kentucky. In addition, the students prepared poster presentations for the Cincinnati Museum Center as part of the museums public information program. These posters illustrated the project objectives, fossil collection procedures at the sites and the curatorial processes undertaken at the museum as well as the participation of the NKU students on these projects. Dr. John Rockaway, Department of Physics and Geology, served as the liaison.
Community Outreach
As in the past, CINSAM sponsored a public program on October 28, 2003. The program, “The Seashell on the Mountain: A Story of Science, Sainthood, and the Humble Genius Who Discovered a New History of the Earth,” explored the life and discoveries of Nicholas Steno, and was presented by noted author/geologist Alan Cutler, Ph.D., who wrote a highly praised biography of Steno. Nicholas Steno was a 17th century scientist and religious ascetic, whose observations challenged accepted thought about the beginnings of the Earth and opened the door to the science of geology and the idea of a world billions of years old. Steno’s scientific work and his relationship to the work of his contemporaries was discussed before a 300-person crowd in NKU’s University Center theatre.
Scholarly Activities
Research Projects Funded and Publications
2003-2004 Grants funded by CINSAM
“Applying physical diffusion models to animal dispersal and population.” |
“Fullerene-Containing Supramolecular Systems for Charge-Transfer Applications” |
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“Digestive mechanisms in Anuran Larvea” |
“River Run 2003 - An interdisciplinary, multi-university study of Zebra Mussel |
“Identification of forensically important flies w/ three-dimensional digital imaging” |
“Genetic diversity w/in and among populations of cicada killer wasps” |
“Physiological Ecology of Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) in Kentucky” |
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“Preparation of second-generation fullerene-transition metal bridges for supramolecular systems” |
“The Chemical & Geological Basis of Microbial Community Subsistence |
“Preliminary investigations of the marine geology and paleontology in western Kansas” |
Grants submitted by CINSAM-Related Faculty
Schmidt, Phillip H., Grants on which I served as either a Principle Investigator: NIH-BRIN Grant “Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics at NKU, “ 2001 –2004, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD, $179,000
Schmidt, Phillip H., (co investigator), Improving Educator Quality Grant, “Planting Seeds, Cultivating Clusters” 2003, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, Frankfort KY. $228,000.
Conference papers and articles accepted for publication by CINSAM-Related Faculty
McEvoy, N.L. and R. D. Durtsche. 2004. Effect of the invasive shrub Lonicera maackii (Caprifoliacea: Amur Honeysuckle) on autumn herpetofauna biodiversity. Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Sciences 65: 27-32.
Presentations of Outcomes by CINSAM-Related Faculty
Acosta, Charles A. , Athula, Herat, Deep Ramanayaka, and Kevin Kirby: “Computational modeling of dispersal dynamics in marine protected areas”. Presentation and Abstract for the 18th Annual Meeting Society for Conservation Biology, Columbia University, NY (August 2004)
Durtsche, R. D., J. K. Quammen, and T. C. Dickman. 2003. An ecological view at northern temperate anuran larvae. 50th Anniversary Meetings of the Southwestern Association of Naturalists. Norman, OK.
Durtsche, R. D., M. Robertson, and K. A. Bendele. 2003. Effects of gut nematodes on the digestive efficiency of the omnivorous teiid lizard, Cnemidophorus murinus. Joint Meetings of Ichthyologist and Herpetologists. Manaus, Amazonas, BRAZIL.
Mackin, Gail, (faculty sponsor), Three NKU teams competed in the 2004 COMAP Undergraduate MCM contest, February, 2004. Team 1: R. Meyers (MAT/CSC), J. Towles (CSC) & J. Towles (CSC); Team 2: T. Meyers (CSC), J. Pratt (MAT) & R. Weis (MAT) (Sharmanthe Fernando, faculty sponsor) Team 3: A. DiBello (PHY), J. Matt (MAT) & J. Quamenn (BIO/MAT). The awards given to the 2004 student teams were Outstanding (7), Meritorious (61), Honorable Mention (159) and Successful Participant (372). All three NKU teams completed the competition and were awarded Successful Participant.
Schmidt, Phillip H., Building Bridges Workshop, “Mixing Messages: Analyzing Gaps Between High School and College Mathematics Expectations,” Louisville KY, December 6, 2003.
Schmidt, Phillip H., Mathematics Department Colloquium, “Piecewise Linear Programming,” University of Louisville, September 12, 2003.
Walters, Keith, Regional Conference held in Cincinnati, OH (oral presentations given by two student researchers); and 2004 spring national ACS meeting in Anaheim, CA (poster presentations given by two student researchers).
CINSAM-Related Student Contributions – Posters and Other Creative Offerings
Fitzpatrick, Brad “Founding of the Biology Integration and Outreach for Teaching Advancement (BIOTA) Program at NKU,” presented at “Posters at the Capitol” event in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Fitzpatrick, Brad “Founding of the Biology Integration and Outreach for Teaching Advancement (BIOTA) Program at NKU,” presented at the “Celebration of Student Research and Creativity” at NKU.
Brad: Toni Lewis: “Population change in a reserve: queen conch rules”. Student Presentation at the Beta Beta Beta Honor Society Southeastern Region 47th Annual Meeting 2004
Toni Lewis, “Population dynamics in a marine reserve: a study of queen conch“ Student Presentation at the NKU Celebration of Student Research and Creativity 2004
Miller, M. A. and R. D. Durtsche. 2004. Microhabitat use and food selection by tadpoles of the wood frog (Rana sylvatica). Tri-Beta Honor Society Regional Meetings, Memphis, TN. (Awarded 1st Place – Johnson Award)
Miller, M. A. and R. D. Durtsche. 2004. Microhabitat use and food selection by tadpoles of the wood frog (Rana sylvatica). Posters-At-The-Capitol. Frankfort, KY.
Miller, M. A. and R. D. Durtsche. 2003. Microhabitat use and food selection by tadpoles of the wood frog (Rana sylvatica). Annual meetings of the Kentucky Academy of Sciences. Bowling Green, KY. (Awarded 1st Place Undergraduate Research Competition – Zoology Division)
Miller, M. A. and R. D. Durtsche. 2003. Nutrient assimilation in green frog tadpoles (Rana clamitans). Joint Meetings of Ichthyologist and Herpetologists. Manaus, Amazonas, BRAZIL.
Miller, M. A. and R. D. Durtsche. 2003. Nutrient assimilation in green frog tadpoles (Rana clamitans). Tri-Beta Honor Society Regional Meetings, Arlington, VA.
Miller, M. A. and R. D. Durtsche. 2003. Nutrient assimilation in green frog tadpoles (Rana clamitans). Posters-At-The-Capitol. Frankfort, KY.
Quammen, J. K. and R. D. Durtsche. 2004. Digestive enzyme activities in anuran larvae under varying food conditions. Tri-Beta Honor Society Regional Meetings, Memphis, TN. (Awarded 1st Place – Brooks Award)
Quammen, J. K. and R. D. Durtsche. 2004. Digestive enzyme activities in anuran larvae under varying food conditions. Tri-Beta Honor Society National Meetings, Grand Junction, CO. (Awarded 1st Place – Brooks Award)
Quammen, J. K, and R. D. Durtsche. 2004. Digestive enzyme activities in anuran larvae under varying food conditions. Posters-At-The-Capitol. Frankfort, KY.
Quammen, J. K. and R. D. Durtsche. 2003. Digestive enzyme activities in anuran larvae under varying food conditions. Annual meetings of the Kentucky Academy of Sciences. Bowling Green, KY. (Awarded 2nd Place Undergraduate Research Competition – Physiology and Biochemistry Division)
Quammen, J. K. and R. D. Durtsche. 2003. Do tadpoles have a stomach: evidence of enzymatic activity in the wood frog (Rana sylvatica). Joint Meetings of Ichthyologist and Herpetologists. Manaus, Amazonas, BRAZIL.
Quammen, J. K. and R. D. Durtsche. 2003. Do tadpoles have a stomach: evidence of enzymatic activity in the wood frog (Rana sylvatica). 50th Anniversary Meetings of the Southwestern Association of Naturalists. Norman, OK.
Quammen, J. K. and R. D. Durtsche. 2003. Do tadpoles have a stomach: evidence of enzymatic activity in the wood frog (Rana sylvatica). Tri-Beta Honor Society Regional Meetings, Arlington, VA. (Awarded 1st Place – Johnson Award)
Quammen, J. K, and R. D. Durtsche. 2003. Do tadpoles have a stomach: evidence of enzymatic activity in the wood frog (Rana sylvatica). Posters-At-The-Capitol. Frankfort, KY.
Quammen, J. K., M. A. Miller, and R. D. Durtsche. 2003. Nutrient assimilation and digestive enzyme activities in tadpoles from temperate regions. 7th Annual Council of Undergraduate Research, Posters On Capitol Hill. Washington, D.C.
Ramanayaka Deepanishantara, “Application of physical diffusion models to animal dispersal“. Student Poster at the NKU Celebration of Student Research and Creativity 2004.
Roszmann, Shelly, awarded a student undergraduate research grant last year. She completed the project and gave a poster presentation at the celebration of student research and creativity held in the spring. The name of the project was ‘Persistence of Escherichia coli in natural samples of soil, sand, coffee extracts, and tea extracts.”
CINSAM Operations
Office Staff, Faculty, Academic Programs
The work of CINSAM is carried out by its staff along with many faculty members from the departments noted in the Introduction. The FY 2003-04 staff of CINSAM consisted of the following:
Full-time: Dr. Phillip H. Schmidt – Director (until February 2004)
Dr. C. Dale Elifrits – Interim Director (as of February 2004);
Pre-Engineering Program Director in Physics and Geology and Outreach Director for CINSAM
Ms. Betty Stephens - Outreach Coordinator
Mr. Charles Bowen - Computer Technical Specialist for Sciences
Ms. Karen M. Ware - Program Manager
Ms. Tina Peebles - Administrative Secretary
Mr. Lee Weiner - Computer Technical Specialist for Computer Science
Ms. Megan Carr- Biology Lab Technician
Dr. Denice Robertson Science 110 Coordinator
Part-time: Amanda True, Secretary, Department of Biological Sciences
Part-time: Various students who assist in the preparation for and delivery of events and programs.
The CINSAM-related departments had the following numbers of full-time faculty during FY 2003-04 (Those mentioned by name have positions funded by CINSAM):
Twenty-three full-time, including:
Charles Acosta
Hildegard Baldridge
Richard Durtsche
Rebecca Evans
Denice Robertson
Thomas Sproat
Twelve, full-time including:
Wayne Bresser
Samuel Boateng
Dale Eliftris
Athula Herat
John Rockaway
Chemistry
Thirteen full-time including:
Roger Blanchard
James Gawenis
David Ledden
K. C. Russell
Keith Walters
Mathematics and Computer Science
Thirty-four full-time faculty including:
James Hauser
Andrew Long
College of Education (Elementary, Middle, and Secondary Education Departments)
Fifteen full-time faculty including:
Anjana Arora
CINSAM
Four full-time faculty, including:
Lynn Ebersole, 2/2004 – present)
C. Dale Elifrits (Interim Director, 2/2004 – present)
Phillip H. Schmidt (Director up to 2/2004)
Betty Stephens
The following faculty were supported through CINSAM with startup funds during 2003-04:
Biological Sciences: Charles Acosta, Richard Durtsche, Thomas Sproat
Chemistry: K C Russell, Keith Walters
Physics & Geology: Sharmanthie Fernanado, Scott Nutter
Enrolled Students
The programs in the CINSAM related departments had the following numbers of majors as of fall 2004:
Biological Sciences – 273
Chemistry – 119
Mathematics and Computer Science – 367
Physics and Geology – 92
College of Education (Elementary, Muddle and Secondary Education) – 139 undergraduates and 291 graduate students, but we cannot break down the numbers specializing in science and/or mathematics education.
The numbers of BS graduates in the sciences and mathematics during FY 2002 were:
Biological Sciences – 38
Chemistry – 8
Mathematics & Computer Science – 23
Physics and Geology – 14
College of Education – 219 (not divided by teaching specialties)
The program continued to develop its multidisciplinary focus in teaching, research, and outreach. Teaching activities included an increase in the number of students taught in the Integrated Science course, the introduction of a new Integrated Science course at the graduate level, and work on the development of an interdisciplinary course in mathematical biology.
Enrollments in the SCI 110 integrative science course at the undergraduate level was 90 (five sections) in fall 2003 and 84 (four sections) in spring 2004. This was an increase of 23 students over 2002-2003.
CINSAM scholarships cover full in-state tuition, on-campus housing, and a book allowance. As such, they are among the most generous on campus. The students holding these for the 2003-2004 year are:
Joshua Bates, Denise Carter, Cristen Casteel, Shawnagay Clarke, Jeremy Donelan, Lucas Hammons, Nicole King, Kimberly L:ichtley, and Stefan Stanev.
CINSAM has coordinated and supported the activity of faculty members and their students on many diverse projects. Each of these projects involved faculty members and undergraduate students from among the disciplines of biology, mathematics, computer science, physics, geology, and/or chemistry. As can be seen from this list, CINSAM supports research that is collaborative and that involves work in the laboratory and the field as well as modeling and analysis.