Fall 2004

Congratulations to our December MA Graduates:

Adriana Undreiu (pictured), Heather Tuin,
Peggy Zeeb, and Stephen Podewell

Student Success:

Dr. Howe (Ph.D. from WMU) has begun a tenure-track faculty position as an assistant professor in the Department of Education at Assumption College, Worcester.

Faculty Success:

Dr. Rudge presented by invitation: "H.B.D. Kettlewell's Research 1937-1953: Influence of the E.B. Ford, E.A. Cockayne and P.M. Sheppard" at a conference on October 23, 2004. This conference: Descended from Darwin: Insights into American Evolutionary Studies 1925-1950, was sponsored by the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, PA.

Dr. Petcovic (Geosciences/Mallinson Institute for Science Education) presented her work at the Geological Society of America in Denver, Colorado, on November 8, 2004. Heather's presentation, entitled "Discovery Days: A Model for Informal K-8 Science, Education and Engagement," discussed how universities can improve ties to local schools by developing programs of hands-on learning and engagement in sciences.

Research/Creative Success:

The NSF awarded a grant to Drs. Jocelyn Steinke, Aletta Zietsman-Thomas and
Maria Lapinsky-LaFaive. The grant will be for assessing media influences: Effects of media literacy training on Middle School-Aged Children's Perceptions of Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology.

Drs. Rudge, Poel, and Cobern are working on a large three-year NSF funded grant entitled "E3: Enlist, Equip, and Empower: An Integrated Approach for Middle School Science." This project focuses on recruiting caring, qualified individuals into the profession; developing a program of instruction specific to the needs of future science teachers at the middle school level; and offering professional development activities for the benefit of in-service teachers. The project is coordinated with representatives from three area public school districts and two community colleges.

New Grants:
Cobern, Schwartz, Schuster, & Applegate. An experimental efficacy study of science achievement and attitude development amongst 8th grade students using an inquiry, integrated science-mathematics-engineering model of instruction. $1,871,525.00 (9/15/2004) NSF-Interagency Education Research Initiative (IERI). This year the IERI reviewed 68 proposals and funded approximately.

Tsang, Cobern, Ginsberg. Student and Faculty Learning Communities to Increase Graduation Rates in STEM Disciplines. $1,971,358.00 with an effective date of 05/01/04. NSF-STEM TALENT EXPANSN PGM. 15 new awards were made by the Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) in response to 198 proposals submitted to the program in May 2003.

Joseph Stoltman, Geography and Science Education, and Lisa DeChano, Geography, are co-investigators of a Michigan Department of Environmental Grant to prepare instructional materials for elementary students in science education entitled "Individuals' Impact on the Land." Grant: $49,000.00 over two years.

Jenness (SAMPI). Lesson Observation-Interview Option for the Michigan Highly Qualified Teacher Program. Michigan Dept. of Education ($200,000).

Poel Receives Faculty Achievement Award:
Robert H. Poel received his Ph.D. in Science Education (Physics and Earth Science) from WMU in 1970 whereupon he was appointed as an Assistant Professor of Natural Science. In 1982 he was appointed Full Professor of Physics and Science Education. In 1988, Bob became the Director of the Center for Science Education at WMU - a position he has held for the last 16 years. Over his career, Bob has been the principle investigator on more than 15 Eisenhower Higher Education and locally funded professional development projects, and a co-PI on 5 major physics curriculum projects and one middle-school project funded by the NSF. His efforts have generated over $4,000,000 in external funding at WMU. Bob has served on the Executive Board and Planning Committee for the Southwestern Michigan Science Olympics Program and as President and Board of Directors member for the Michigan Science Teachers Association. Bob's illustrious career also includes over 150 professional presentations, workshops, and invited and contributed papers at state, national and international science meetings and conferences. In 1998, Bob received the very first Outstanding Service Award presented by the Michigan Association of Physics teachers and in 2003 he received the Faculty Achievement Award in Professional and Community Service from the College of Arts and Sciences at WMU.

2005 Archives