Newsletter
A bi-monthly newsletter for the NSF Science and Technology Center on
Materials and Devices for Information Technology Research |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS |
CMDITR Signature Course Takes ShapeThe Education Team is currently working on a series of modules for a graduate-level “Signature Course” that will combine interdisciplinary material from physics, chemistry and engineering to illustrate how an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) functions. This course will take the form of a series of PowerPoint-based lectures featuring audio-visual narration and interactive content, and will be available by streaming video at CMDITR institutions and stored as a resource on the web. Completion of initial modules is scheduled for delivery in Fall 2005. The Education Team would like to thank those who participated in the Education Session at the Atlanta retreat, where a useful discussion of the intended aims and outcomes of this first ‘Signature Course’ took place. Assistance from faculty and students will be needed during the development and evaluation process. If you have suggestions for future courses, or other comments please feel free to offer them via the “Signature Course Suggestion Box” in the members-only section of the CMDITR website. Center Says Goodbye to Dana Riley-Black, Executive Director of Education
Relationshop with Norfolk State University Expands Expanding on a long-term relationship between Center Director, Larry Dalton and NSU faculty and administration, the CMDITR is collaborating with NSU Faculty to develop teaching materials for their developing Ph.D. program in Advanced Materials Science and Engineering (MSE). This will be NSU’s 2nd Ph.D. program and only the 2nd MSE Ph.D. program in a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). We were very happy to host several NSU faculty members and students at the retreat in Atlanta, where the idea to pilot some of the PhD curriculum materials as a ‘special topics’ course for current NSU Masters students was discussed. As a result, CMDITR faculty are currently working with their colleagues at NSU to put the elements of this course together, and will be traveling to Norfolk, VA in March and April to give lectures and seminars. CMDITR PostDoc Receives NSF Discovery Corps Fellowship This two year fellowship, which begins Fall 2005, will allow Rachel to continue collaborating with CMDITR while developing partnerships with this new science center and high schools in the Tucson area. Rachel has been with the Center since June 2003, working on web module development for The POINT with Dr. Vicente Talanquer. Rachel has also assisted in the management of an Arizona Board of Regents grant which provides funds for professional development opportunities for teachers in grades 6-12, teaching them skills so they can create additional web modules related to CMDITR research. |
The Center is sorry to announce the departure of Dana Riley-Black. Dana has been an integral member of our Education team since 2003 and her efforts have contributed to the success of a number of our projects including the RCR modules and our ‘Hooked on Photonics’ REU program. Dana will now be channeling her energies into educational initiatives in Washington state with a K-12, community-based focus. We would like to thank Dana for her excellent work and wish her all the best for the future. 
As part of our expanding partnership with Norfolk State University (NSU), Center PIs will co-deliver a “special topics’ Photonics course Spring 2005 at NSU. 
CMDITR Education Post Doctoral Associate, Rachel Morgan Theall, was recently awarded a Discovery Corps Fellowship from the National Science Foundation to create exhibits for the Flandau Science Center with students from area high schools. The exhibits will focus on a science topic relevant to the students’ home communities. 