Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering Research in Secondary Education

It has been demonstrated that science education is more effective when instruction is related to real-world problems. Bioengineering and chemical engineering have appealing applications to life in the real world, making them ideal platforms for introducing basic and advanced science topics in exciting and innovative ways in the classroom.

• Communicating Technologies in Bioengineering (BIOE 850): a graduate level course for education majors and secondary science teachers, offered through the SC Life program. Bioengineering concepts and innovative research are introduced in a way that teachers can use to convey science concepts to their high school students, and to provide them with hands-on teaching tools and materials related to bioengineering. (Co-Investigator: Dr. Karen Burg, Bioengineering Dept., Clemson University)
• Research Experience for Teachers (RET): a summer research internship program funded by the National Science Foundation, and offered through the Center for Advanced Engineering Fibers and Films (CAEFF) for high school teachers. Participants will gain an understanding of technical and scientific concepts pertaining to polymers and polymer processing, and will be trained in teaching module development and basic methods used in education research. (Co-Investigators: Dr. Douglas Hirt, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Dept, Clemson University; Dr. Eric Mintz, Chemistry Dept, Clark Atlanta University). Funded by NSF grant number EEC-0602040.