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

知识价值。通过为参与的本科生提供机会，展示他们在国家层面的创造性学术活动的成果，研讨会是特别致力于表彰和庆祝学生的杰出工作，是激励这些学生并在智力上激发他们进一步研究生教育兴趣的最有效手段之一。参加研讨会的学生将有机会讨论他们的研究项目，并与其他学生、研究生、教师和专业科学家交流意见。此外，学生将练习演讲技巧，并获得在国家级专业科学会议上展示研究成果的宝贵经验。更广泛的影响。研讨会旨在表彰高分子科学与工程领域的优秀本科生，促进网络和接触，为研究生研究和教育提供机会，并帮助未来学术界和工业界的领导者发展职业生涯。研讨会还将为学生和指导教师提供一个机会，见证学生的项目如何促进教师的研究，并为更大的社区服务。此外，它将为未来几代本科生提供动力。那些还没有从事这些研究的人可以了解他们的同学是如何发展他们的研究兴趣的。“科学家什么时候成为科学家？”当一个人知道很多事实，甚至深入了解自然世界的某些方面时，就不是这样了。我认为，当对一种现象的好奇心导致对新知识的探究时，这种转变就发生了。这种情况可能发生在对某一学科知之甚少或知之甚少的人身上。这是一种探究的态度。”

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".