Cornell Center for Materials Research

Research Experience for Teachers I 2004

2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999

The 2004 Team-RET program participants were (from left to right):

  • Eric Bowerman - Vestal Senior High School, Vestal, NY
  • Daniel Delorme - Horseheads High School, Horseheads, NY
  • Shawn Hennon - Belleville Township High School East, Belleville, IL
  • Ray Kaschalk - Haverling High School, Bath, NY
  • Tracy Suggs - Vestal High School, Vestal, NY

The teachers spent most of their time in CCMR's Shared Experimental Facilities. Included in the Team-RET program was the CCMR Polymer Characterization Facility with facility manager Anthony Condo. During their time with Tony, the teachers not only learned about and used equipment to characterize polymers, they also made some of there own. The Team-RET program also included opportunities for the teachers to attend research talks, meet with faculty members and graduate students, tour other research facilities at Cornell and enjoy the scenic and geologic beauty of Ithaca's gorges.

Some of the faculty members the teachers met with were Physics Professor Vinay Ambegaokar to discuss probability and its uses in Physics; and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Professor Marjolein van der Meulen to discuss bone density and strength.

The 2004 Team-RET program ran from July 6 - August 13 and included the following activities:

  • "Introduction to Materials Science" (Prof. Kit Umbach)
  • "Images from Materials Science" (Prof. Chekesha Liddell)
  • "Applications of Elementary Mechanics in Biology and Medicine" (Prof. Rob Thorne)
  • "Reasoning About Luck: probability and its uses in physics" (Prof. Vinay Ambegaokar)
  • Electron and Optical Microscopy Facility
  • Computing and PowerPoint Training
  • "Got Milk? Got Game? Get Bones?" (Prof. Marjolein van der Meulen)
  • "The Substance of Civilization" (Prof. Stephen Sass)
  • Tour of Cornell Nano-Scale Science and Technology Facility
  • Materials Facility
  • Polymer Characterization Facility
  • UHV-STEM Laboratory
  • Safety Training
  • Diffraction and Enzymes (Graduate student Gil Toombes)
  • X-Ray Diffraction Facility
  • Tour of Physical Sciences Library
  • Tour of Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source and CLEO
  • Evolution of Waterfalls and Gorges (Prof. Jack Bird)

Optional talks included:

  • "The Dawn of Organic Electronics" (Prof. George Malliaras)
  • "When I Stretch It, It Shrinks, and Other Odd Mechanical Behaviors of Small Things" (Prof. Shef Baker)
  • "Single-Molecule Electronics" (Prof. Dan Ralph)

 

Research Experience for Teachers II 2004

Independent-RET: July 6- August 13, 2004

2005 saw six teachers participate in the Independent-RET program.

 

Karen Balbierer teaches Chemistry and Physics at Victor Senior High School in Victor, NY. During the summer of 2004 she conducted polymer research with Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Professor David Putnam and Textiles and Apparel Professors Margaret Frey and Anil Netravali. Karen originally participated in the Team-RET program in 2003.

 

Claire Godlewski teaches sixth grade science and reading at Oneida Middle School in Schenectady, NY. During the summer of 2004 she conducted research with facility manager Dr. Maura Weathers. Her research focused on the surface analysis of quartzite, quartz, and aluminum using the scanning probe image profiler and the scanning electron microscope. Claire previously participated in the Team-RET program in 2001 and Independent-RET program in both 2002 and 2003.

 

Jerry Meccariello teaches Chemistry and Physics at Cato-Meridian High School in Cato, NY. During the summer of 2004 he conducted research with Chemistry and Chemical Biology Professor D. Tyler McQuade and graduate student Steven Broadwater on the manufacturing of microcapsules. Jerry originally participated in the Team-RET program in 2002.

 

Dr. Mahyar Nikpour teaches Physics and Chemistry at Roosevelt UFSD in Roosevelt, NY. During the summer of 2004 he conducted research with visiting Professor Mingming Wu and graduate student Mark Buckley ii the department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering. His research focused on surface tension and capillary action. This was Mahyar's first RET experience.

 

Michael Pavlovich, Jr. teaches Chemistry, General Science and Earth Science at Susquehanna Valley High School in Conklin, NY. During the summer of 2004 he conducted research with Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Professor Jack Bird. His research used the electron microprobe ion an analysis of Os-Ir-Ru grains. This was Mike's first RET experience.

 

Mona Steigerwald teaches Chemistry at Horseheads High School in Horseheads, NY. During the summer of 2004 she conducted research with Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Professor Yong Joo. Her research centered on the formation of nanofibers by electro spinning, annealing them at various temperatures. Mona originally participated in the Team-RET program in 2002.

 

At the end of the RET program, teachers are expected to develop a materials science related lesson plan. These lesson plans, which we refer to as modules, have been as varied as the teacher that have participated and have ranged in topic from geology to biodegradable polymers to balsa wood bridges. The full list of RET developed modules can be found on our RET Modules page.

 
Edited on: 17 August 2009 11:35 am