Thomas, F.I.M. : Incorporation of an educational componant into a research program: trials and successes.

The CAREER program at NSF provides grants for researchers early in their careers. In addition to a research program, these researchers are asked to develop programs designed to integrate their research with an educational component. I was a recipient of a CAREER award and subsequent PECASE award in 1997. The research component of this grant is to examine the effects of water velocity and community topography on transport and uptake of dissolved nutrients. We are using engineering models, combined with field data to determine the factors that control nutrient uptake by entire communities. We are also using stable isotopes to examine which members of the community are involved in uptake. The education component of the program includes minority recruitment, high school and community outreach programs. Developing these educational programs has added a challenge to my early career development, but in general has been an addition to my research and to my entire laboratory. The most successful and productive portion of the educational program has been the minority recruitment program. Each summer 1 – 2 undergraduates come to my laboratory and participate in a research program. This program has been run in cooperation with Tuskeegee University, Talladega College, and Florida A & M University. A total of six students have participated in the program over the last 3 years. The program is now focused on developing continuing research collaboration with a laboratory at FAMU so that the research experience can continue throughout the academic year. The high school and community outreach program has evolved through time. At present we are working with a high school physics teacher to develop a web based curriculum for high school students that will also be accessible for community outreach.