Strengthening Graduate Education in Science and Engineering Through Systemic Involvement in Research and Outreach Activities

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9553350 Leslie-Pelecky Participation in outreach, in addition to research, as part of the training of graduate students in science and engineering will be established and institutionalized. Nine graduate students per year will be funded to assist with the development of materials for the outreach program. Other graduate students, faculty, and staff will work with the program on a volunteer basis. The supported students will represent a wide range of disciplines covering most of the sciences and engineering. Student awardees will receive an enhanced stipend, $1000 for travel to a professional meeting, and funding for purchase and/or construction of demonstrations in their field. The outreach project has as its basis scripted modules that develop a scientific or technical concept using demonstrations and hands-on activities supervised by members of the outreach group. Graduate student participation by both the awardees and volunteers will assist in the development of skills such as: communicating the importance of science and engineering to non-scientists, learning the fundamentals of grant writing, improving oral communication, and working with the media. Centralization of these efforts will create productive links between different departments and centers on campus, as well as provide an efficient means for increasing the competitiveness of graduates in the job market. As part of the project, a professional development seminar open to all graduate students will be offered. Topics covered will include job hunting skills (writing a vita, interviewing), professional skills (writing papers and proposals, presenting technical talks) and outreach-related topics (working with children, communicating with the media). After the materials development phase, future plans call for dissemination to colleges and high schools throughout the state, in conjunction with conferences to prepare the new users for outreach activity.