When I came back to teaching after spending 5 years as a research chemist (mostly “big-pharma”) my students were surprised that I would be willing to give up almost 40% of my salary to do so.
“I’m not here for the money”, I tell them; “Im here for you”…
Im here because teaching is in my blood, because I believe in what we are doing, and because I have something to offer our students. Im here at the Science Focus Program for the same reason they are here: we wanted something more.
Students at the Science Focus Program actually DO get something more. They get more science classes than the average student (at one science class each semester, 40 hours of science is the minimum!), they get more of my time, and they get more practice actually DOING science.
What do I mean by “doing” science? Here are some of the things our students have been involved in
2009 I started a collaboration with Doane and UNL that allowed students to participate in an effort to design and build a portable Scanning Tunneling Microscope. An STM allows you to examine materials at the level of individual atoms and even pick up and move single atoms! Students interested in this kind of work should contact me.
2010 We received a grant for an Energy Bike. As students pedal the bike they generate power! Feel firsthand the difference between how hard you have to work to light a “regular” light bulb and a “high efficiency” bulb. Students can conduct studies on power generation, efficiency, and energy conservation.
Isaac (left) and Kyle (right) accept award for algal research.
2011 (Spring) Two of our students actually got to launch an experiment into space! As part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program our students participated in (and eventually won) a contest to put an experiment on the final shuttle flight ever. On the final shuttle flight ever, there was a small sample of algae from our lab. Ground based studies show that algae produce a higher quantity of oil when stressed. This oil can be harvested and used to make biofuels. But does the same thing happen in space? The data is being analyzed even now…
2011 (Spring) Students presented research at Climate Change Student Summit. Sharing their work with students from Alaska, Illinois and Virginia and professors from UNL, our students had a chance to both learn and teach about climate change. To the right is a poster presented by Libby Hoffman on Diatoms.
2011 (Summer) Students helped host the “Engineering Better Heart Health” Sunday with a Scientist event at Morril Hall. With audience ages ranging from 4 to 93, students talked about Science & Engineering and engaged the public in hands on activities. Many of the activities & presentations were designed by the students themselves. See the following page for details: Sunday with a Scientist. Photo below
2011 (Fall) Students have started a team to compete in the Real World Design Challenge. This national competition has been going since 2008 but this is the first year Nebraska has been involved. This years challenge: design a wing for a light personal aircraft. The wing must be carbon-friendly, light and strong, capable of carrying 2 passengers 200 miles in less than 2 hours. Students will need to learn the design software, master the physics of flight, propose a wing design and test it all prior to submission.