Travel Assistance Awards for Symposium Undergraduate Research in Polymer Science at 2008 Spring National ACS Meeting in New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008

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Intellectual merit.By providing the opportunity for participating undergraduate students to display theresults of their creative academic activities at the national level, the Symposium, which isspecifically dedicated to recognize and celebrate the students' exceptional work, is one of themost effective means to motivate these students and intellectually stimulate their further interestin graduate education. The symposium will give participating students a chance to discuss theirresearch projects and exchange ideas with other students, graduate researchers, faculty andprofessional scientists. In addition students will practice presentation skills and gain invaluableexperience presenting research at a premiere, national level, professional scientific conference.Broader Impact.The symposium will serve to provide recognition to outstanding undergraduate studentsin polymer science and engineering, to foster networking and exposure, to introduceopportunities in graduate research and education and to help develop the careers of future leadersin both academia and industry. The symposium will also offer an occasion for students andsupervising faculty to witness how student projects enhance faculty research and also serve thegreater community. Additionally, it will provide motivation for future generations ofundergraduate students. Those who are not engaged in these pursuits as yet can learn how theirfellow students developed their research interests."When does a scientist become a scientist? It is not when a person knows many facts andeven understands in depth some aspect of the natural world. I would suggest the transitionoccurs when curiosity about a phenomenon leads to an inquiry for new knowledge. This canoccur in a person with little or lots of knowledge about a subject. It is an attitude of inquiry".