2003 Campus-Community Partnerships
Enriching Science Education in LA Unified School District through
Hands-On
Experiments in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
| Awardee: | Prof. Sarah
Tolbert, Professor Chemistry and Biochemistry |
| Partner: | Los Angeles Unified School District |
Abstract:
The purpose of this project is to provide start-up funding for a program aimed at incorporating cutting edge science into the Los Angeles area public schools. The program is a joint effort of the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), the NSF sponsored Materials Creation IGERT (Integrated Graduate Education and Research Training) program, Center X from UCLA graduate school of education, and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
The goal of the project is to develop experiments suitable for high school students that combine fundamental aspects of science already a part of the public school curriculum with modern nanotechnology. In the project (which was started in the fall of 2002), graduate students working in the field of nanoscience design experiments based on their personal research experience and information available in the literature.
Funds will be used to build these experiments into "kits" for high schools. LAUSD has pledged to provide organization and teacher support for workshops in which high school science teachers learn about both the science and technology behind the experiments. The graduate students involved will also provide support for teachers at schools to help make these experiments a part of the regular curriculum.
