Catalyst Project: Infusing evidence - based hand-on activities into general education science core courses through the existing on-campus Observatory

Catalyst项目为传统黑人学院和大学（HBCU）提供支持，以建立教师的研究能力，以加强科学，技术，工程和数学本科教育和研究。预计该奖项将进一步提高该教员的研究能力，提高该机构的研究和教学水平。让本科生参与研究体验。温斯顿-塞勒姆州立大学（WSSU）正在建立一个项目，该项目将在现有的科学课程中注入互动的、多学科的研究活动，以满足他们的一般教育要求。该项目旨在招募更多非裔美国STEM学生学习天文学。项目目标将实现以下目标：(1)开发实践研究项目，将利用大学的物理、化学、生物、计算机科学和数学课程的天文台；(2)改善天文台的设施；(3)将研究项目融入选修课；(4)参与式学习社区。该项目将促进并支持以证据为基础的创新模式和方法的开发、实施和研究，以提高WSSU和其他HBCU本科生的准备和成功。此外，它还承诺通过这种新方法支持现有STEM专业的学生招聘。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Catalyst Projects provide support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to work towards establishing research capacity of faculty to strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics undergraduate education and research. It is expected that the award will further the faculty member's research capability, improve research and teaching at the institution. and involve undergraduate students in research experiences. Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is establishing a project that will infuse interactive, multidisciplinary research activities in existing science courses that satisfy their general education requirements. The project has been designed to recruit more African American STEM students to study Astronomy. The project goal will be accomplished the following objectives: (1) the development of the hands-on research projects that will utilize the university’s Observatory in physics, chemistry, biology, computer science, and math courses; (2) the upgrade of the Observatory; (3) the infusion of the research projects into the selected courses; and (4) the engagement learning community. The project will enable and support the development, implementation, and study of evidence-based, innovative models and approaches for improving the preparation and success of WSSU and other HBCU undergraduates. Furthermore, it promises to support student recruitment into existing STEM majors with this novel approach.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.