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

催化剂项目为历史悠久的黑人学院和大学(HBCU)提供支持，以努力建立教职员工的研究能力，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教职员工的研究能力，改善该机构的研究和教学。并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，将在现有的科学课程中融入互动的、多学科的研究活动，以满足他们的普通教育要求。该项目旨在招收更多非裔美国STEM学生学习天文学。项目目标将实现以下目标：(1)开发将利用大学天文台的物理、化学、生物、计算机科学和数学课程的实践研究项目；(2)天文台的升级；(3)将研究项目注入选定的课程；以及(4)参与式学习社区。该项目将促进和支持以证据为基础的创新模式和方法的开发、实施和研究，以改进WSSU和HBCU其他本科生的准备和成功。此外，它承诺用这种新颖的方法支持现有STEM专业的学生招生。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.