WVU engineering offers research, travel experiences to high school teachers this summer
High school teachers from West Virginia and the surrounding region can participate in hands-on research in energy and environmental topics at West Virginia University in a new program starting this summer. The program will also include a ten-day trip to England.

Funded by the National Science Foundation, the six-week Research Experience for Teachers program is co-sponsored by the WVU College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, WVU College of Human Resources and Education, and The EdVenture Group. High school teachers in science, technology, engineering and math are eligible to apply. “This program aims to provide high school teachers with research experience in the areas of energy and the environment,” said Darran Cairns, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and RET director, “so that they can share their knowledge and experience with their students.”

The program will run from June 14 to July 23. Participant teachers will spend the majority of that time in the engineering laboratories at WVU, with the exception of a 10-day trip to the University of Birmingham in England. Participants will receive a $6,000 stipend, plus travel to and accommodations in England.

“Engaging teachers in hands-on research will help them, in turn, engage and motivate their students to pursue science and engineering degrees and technology careers,” said Cairns. For more information and an application form visit www.cemr.wvu.edu/RETapp.doc Signatures of school principal and county superintendent are required. All application materials are due by Feb. 15. For more information, contact: Darran R. Cairns at (304) 293-3330 or darran.cairns@mail.wvu.edu

The Mountain Institute Appalachia Program provides environmental education and adventure activities for K-12 and has a teacher development program in which teachers can earn college credit. Toyota of WV has recently provided funding for this program. The National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C. provides opportunities for K-12 science teachers to work for a year or more at the institute. For further information or to apply, please visit the NSF’s Einstein Fellows page.

Time Kits for and developed by WV teachers are Tools for Integrating Math & Engineering through standards based curriculum units.

ERC WORKSHOPS: The NASA IV&V Educator Resource Center (ERC) provides resources and training opportunities to make a significant educational impact in the classroom. The ERC provides in-service, pre-service, and informal educators with an easily accessible source of materials that reflect NASA’s current research and technology. Below is a listing of workshops for the spring 2010 semester:

1/18 GLOBE, Probes, GPS, & GIS, Mon. 10 am-5 pm

1/23 Robots and Ratios, Sat. 10 am-4 pm

1/26 Aeronautics, Tue. 5-7 pm

1/30 Exploring Microgravity(Webinar), Sat.12-1:30pm

2/2 Line up with Math, Tue. 5-7 pm

2/20 Energy Series: Science of Energy, Sat. 10 am-12

2/20 Energy Series: Solar Energy, Sat. 1-3 pm

2/22 Kindernauts, Mon. 10 am-2 pm

2/27 NASA Exploration Toolkits (Webinar), Sat. 12-1:30 pm

2/27 Physics of Flight, Sat. 2-5 pm

3/2 Introduction to GPS, Tue. 5-8 pm

3/13 Podcasts in the Classroom (Webinar), Sat. 12-1:30

3/16 Imagine Mars, Tue. 5-7 pm

3/24 Space Weather Action Center, Wed. 5-7 pm

3/27 Space Place and STARLAB, Sat. 10 am-2 pm

4/3 Robots and Ratios, Sat. 10 am-4 pm

4/8 EDC: Thermal Protection Systems, Thu. 5-7 pm

4/17 Clear Skies Ahead: Clearing up the Confusion on Clouds (Webinar), Sat. 12-1:30 pm

4/24 Energy Series: Hydrogen, Sat. 10 am-12:30

4/24 Energy Series: Wind, Sat. 1-4 pm

5/8 Discover the Universe with Galileo (Webinar), Sat. 12-1:30 pm

5/15 Advanced Rocketry, Sat. 10 am-2 pm

And remember, you can invite the ERC to your school or county to present any of the above workshops or they will develop customized training to meet your needs and interests. To register for any of upcoming workshop, please go directly to the registration page here:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB229MQRMJH5D
or you can visit their website at http://erc.ivv.nasa.gov