RUI: Undergraduate Research in Glass Science at Coe College; A National Model of Excellence

非技术描述：该项目代表了一个充满活力和创新的本科研究项目，是全国卓越的典范。该项目涉及40名学生，他们将在未来五年内研究玻璃科学的应用和基础科学项目。学生将进行研究，重点是发现新的玻璃成型系统和成分范围；表征物理性质；建立专利快速冷却装置；学习制作微米尺度光栅和光学器件；形成微球;致力于将核废料掺入玻璃；对这些新材料进行原子结构研究。这项拟议工作的更广泛影响是多方面的。它们包括：1)教授大量本科生如何进行持续的研究。70%的学生继续攻读科学或工程专业的研究生。该集团具有充分的包容性，各方都欢迎参与。2)服务于玻璃科学和物理学界。在这一领域，教职员工担任领导角色(例如：阿法提加托教授是美国陶瓷学会玻璃和光学材料部门的前任主席，费勒教授是美国物理研究所的联合主席？组织了许多关于玻璃科学和物理学的会议。此外，在线课程的两个部分（由克莱姆森大学和理哈伊大学的nsf国际材料研究所和宾夕法尼亚州立大学共同组织）教授玻璃科学（光谱学和特性）。3)通过参观学校向公众介绍科学；在科学院主持学生团体；就玻璃制作等主题进行公开讲座和示范。最具代表性的外展项目是Coe科学游乐场，它吸引了1500-2000名社区成员，主要是年轻学生，参加一个晚上的科学演示。技术细节：该项目涉及一个充满活力的本科生研究计划，将在未来五年内培养40名本科生。大部分工作将在科学院内部完成，使用设备齐全的实验室。设备基础包括：扫描电子显微镜、原子力显微镜、拉曼和傅立叶变换红外光谱、激光解吸飞行时间质谱、x射线衍射、多热设备、x射线分析化学测定（EDXRF）和一个优秀的玻璃制造设备。所进行的研究既有基础方面的，也有应用方面的，并力求为玻璃科学领域做出实质性的贡献。基础科学工作的重点是发现新的玻璃形成体系；扩大玻璃成型范围；利用科学院和世界各地的丰富光谱技术对这些新玻璃进行原子结构研究；描述物理性质。更多的应用工作包括设计和建造可获得专利的最先进的快速冷却装置；学习使用激光结晶和火焰球化技术制作微米级光栅和微球；并致力于将核废料掺入硼硅酸盐主体玻璃中。这项研究的很大一部分是与世界各地的合作者一起完成的，特别是在北美、南美和欧洲。这扩展了这些学生可用的技术曲目，并促进了新信息的发现。这些合作也为科学院带来了新的想法和学生，丰富了所有人的教育经验。这项工作的影响是相当大的。科学院创造的科学技术被世界各地的团体所采用，其教学方法为全国树立了榜样。教育方法是创新的，本科生学习长时间（多年）做研究，他们充分参与工作的各个方面。到目前为止，他们已经共同撰写了100多篇论文，并做了数百次演讲。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION:This project represents a vigorous and innovative undergraduate research program that serves as a national model of excellence. This project involves 40 students studying a mix of applied and basic science projects in glass science over the next five years. Students will undertake research focused on discovering new glass forming systems and ranges of compositions; characterizing physical properties; building patented rapid cooling devices; learning to make micron-scale gratings and optical devices; forming microspheres; working on nuclear waste incorporation into glasses; and doing atomic structure studies of these new materials. The broader impacts of this proposed work are manifold. They include: 1) teaching large numbers of undergraduates how to do sustained research. Seventy percent of their students continue onwards to graduate school in science or engineering. The group is fully inclusive and participation is welcomed by all. 2) serving the glass science and physics community. In this area the faculty have assumed leadership roles (examples: Prof. Affatigato is the immediate past chair of the Glass and Optical Materials Division of the American Ceramic Society, and Prof. Feller was co- president of American Institute of Physics?s Society of Physics Students) and numerous conferences in glass science and physics were organized. Also, two segments of on-line courses (co-organized by Clemson University and the NSF-International Materials Institute at Lehigh University and Penn State University) were taught in glass science (spectroscopy and properties). 3) bringing science to the public by visiting schools; hosting student groups at Coe College; giving public lectures and demonstrations on topics such as glass-making. The signature outreach program is the Coe Playground of Science that brings 1500-2000 community members, mainly young students, for an evening of science demonstrations. TECHNICAL DETAILS:This project involves a vigorous undergraduate research program that will educate 40 undergraduate students over the next five years. Much of the work will be done in-house at Coe College using very well equipped laboratories. The equipment base includes: scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopies, laser-desorption time-of-flight mass spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, much thermal equipment, chemical determination by x-ray analysis (EDXRF), and an excellent glass-making facility. The research conducted has both both basic and applied aspects, and it seeks to make substantial contributions to the field of glass science. The basic science work is focused on discovering new glass forming systems; extending glass-forming ranges; conducting atomic structure studies of these new glasses using a wealth of spectroscopic techniques available both at Coe College and around the world; and characterizing physical properties. The more applied work includes designing and building patentable state-of-the art rapid cooling devices; learning to make micron-scale gratings and microspheres using laser crystallization and flame spheroidization; and working on nuclear waste incorporation into borosilicate host glasses. A significant amount of this research is done with collaborators around the world, in particular, in North and South America, and in Europe. This expands the repertoire of techniques available to these students and facilitates the discovery of new information. These collaborations also bring new ideas and students to Coe College, enriching the educational experience for all. The impacts of the work are considerable. The science and technology created at Coe College is used by groups throughout the world and the methods of instruction serve as a model for the nation. The educational approach is innovative and undergraduate students learn to do research over extended periods (multiple years) and they participate fully in all aspects of the work. To date they have co-authored over 100 papers and have given hundreds of presentations.