SciTech News March2006 Page�

faiRmonT STaTe uniVeRSiTy College of SCienCe and TeChnology

SciTech NewsVol. 3 issue 1 march 2006

Fishheads Transform Biology Program

Dr.PamelaDaveyHuggins’groupofnineresearchstudents(informallydubbedtheFishheads),withtheassistanceoflab

managerKarenGrubb,isintheprocessoftransformingthethirdand fourth floors of HuntHaughtHallwithprofessionalqualityliveanimalexhibits.Thepurposeoftheseexhibitsisthreefold:toenhancethecurrentbiologycurriculum,toencouragebothclass-relatedandindepen-dentstudentresearch,andtoserveasarecruitmenttoolforthebiologyprogram.

Dr.Huggins’re-searchstudentsthemselveshavegainedvalu-ableexperienceinbudgetwriting,exhibitdesign,andconstruction.InJanuarythe

FishheadstraveledtotheNationalAquariuminBaltimore,MD,foraspecialbehind-the-scenestechnicaltourandreturnedwithnumerousdesignideas,usefulprofessionalcontacts,andtheremnantsofalobsternamedBob.(It’salongstory.)Plansarebe-ing made for a joint field trip to the mid-At-lanticcoastwithDr.DonTriselthisspring.

Currentandproposedexhibitsincludean Indo-Pacific coral reef community, Lake Malawi freshwater community, Chesapeake Baysaltmarshcommunity,WestVirginiastreamcommunities(bothpristineandpolluted),desertcommunity,andspecies-specific exhibits of tree frogs, mudskippers, and snakes. Exhibit progress and updates willbeavailableonaspecialFairmontStateFishheadswebpage.Thewebpagecanbeaccessedfromthebiologyprogrampage,athttp://www.fairmontstate.edu/academics/BiologyProgram.

The Fishheads. L-R: Dr. Pamela Davey Huggins, Amanda Chase, Karen Grubb, Brandon Horner, Chris Sedlacek (in back), Jason Osburn (in back), Brandon Conrad, John Pierson, Tracey Serge. Not pictured: Jason Ely, Alisa Kilkenny.

Science Education Partners with NASA IV&V FacilityTheCollegeofScienceandTechnology

atFairmontStatehasreceivedtwomajorgrants from the NASA Independent Verifi-cationandValidation(IV&V)Center.ThegrantswillbeusedtohelpcarryoutNASA’smissionofeducatingthepublic.TheNASAIV&VfacilityiscontractingwithFairmontState to staff and operate both the Educa-tor Resource Center (ERC) and the Student Outreach Center (SOC). The ERC provides supportforteachersandhomeschoolparents,whiletheSOCprovidesservicesforstudentsingradesK-�6.TheeducationspecialistsatthetwocentershaveTemporaryAssis-tantProfessorstatusatFairmontStateandreporttoDr.DebHemler,coordinatorofGeoscience Education in the Department of Biology,ChemistryandGeoscience.HemlernegotiatedthecontractforFairmontStatewithNed[Nelson]Keeler,theformerdirec-torofNASAIV&Vfacility.Thecentersmake a visual outreach to the community for theIV&Vfacility.

The ERC grant was funded in November

2005 for $520,��7 over the next 3years. The grant supports two full-time science education staff mem-bers, travel and supplies for theERC staff, and free workshops for teachers, some with option for col-legegraduatecreditthroughFS.Thestaff members are Cynthia Keeling,ProgramManager,whohandlesele-mentary education, and Todd Ensign, Education and Technology Special-ist,whohandlessecondaryeducationissues for the NASA IV&V Educator ResourceCenter.

Events organized through the ERC include Teacher Thursdays, duringwhichteacherscangatheratthecenterandinteractwithscien-tists all over the country via downlinks. For example, teachers linked with the Carnegie ScienceMuseumonDec.3,2005,foradinosaur workshop. Teachers using dino-saur kits located at the ERC were “pres-ent”withscientistsusingamicroscopeand

macroscope via a live link to the Carnegie ScienceMuseum.Allpre-servicescienceteachers from Fairmont State visit the ERC at least once and do a workshop there dur-ingthesciencemethodsclass(elementaryandsecondary).AliciaCrites,asecondary

Continued on page 6

WV teachers engage in ERC workshop at the NASA IV & V facility.

www.fairmontstate.edu/academics/CollegeofSciTech

Page2 March2006 SciTech News

Dr.PhilMason,formerDeanoftheCol-legeofScienceandTechnology,wasnamedinDecember2005astheVicePresidentforResearchandGraduateStudiesforFairmontState.Dr.Masonheldaninterimappoint-mentinthepositionbeginningAugust2005whentheformerVicePresidentforResearchandContracts,Dr.KarlBurgher,wastappedasPresidentattheUniversityofMaineatPresqueIsle.

Dr.MasonjoinedFairmontStatein�998aschairoftheSchoolofScienceandMath,andbecamedeanoftheCollegeofScienceandTechnologyuponitscreationin2003fromthemergeroftheSchoolofScienceandMathandtheSchoolofTechnology.Dr.

New Faces Faces Faces Faces Faces Faces

SciTech Newsispublishedbythe

CollegeofScienceandTechnologyFairmont,WV26554

(304)367-4�56or367-4642Editor..................................Erica HarveyLayout............................TammyHolden

Newsletter reproduced by the Fairmont Printing Co., Fairmont, WV

Former Dean Named Vice President

n Jim WeekleyThechemistryprogramwelcomed

Jim Weekley as Instructor of Chemistry inAugust2005afteranationalsearchthepreviousspring.Jimservesasthegeneralchemistrylabcoordinatorandisinchargeofcoordinatinginstrumentmaintenanceforthe chemistry program. In his first year, he hastaughtChemicalPrincipleslabsections,IntroductiontoChemistry,andisdevelopingamicroscopycoursefortheforensicscienceprogram. Jim was born in Clarksburg, WV, onNov.2�,�968,andgrewuponafarminDoddridgeCounty.HegraduatedfromDoddridgeCountyHighSchoolin�987,atwhichtimehejoinedtheU.S.Navy.HeservedintheU.S.Navyforeightyears.AftercompletinghisNavyobligation,heattendedFairmontStateCollege,receivinghisB.S.inchemistryin2000.HethenattendedtheUniversity of Kentucky where he earned his M.S.inPharmaceuticalScience.Jimtaught

Mason’scalmdemeanorandemphasisonprofessionalism and positive thinking were instrumentalinguidingthefacultysuccess-fully through a period of significant growth and reorganization.

Interim Administrative TeamAnationalsearchforanewDeanofthe

CollegeofScienceandTechnologywillcommenceinearlyfallof2006.Dr.SteveRoof,ProfessorofBiologyandChairoftheDepartmentofBiology,ChemistryandGeoscience,hasbeenservingastheInterimDeansinceAugust2005.ServingasInterimChairoftheDepartmentofBiology,Chemis-try and Geoscience is Dr. Erica Harvey, ProfessorofChemistry.

New Faculty

physical science at Lafayette High School in Lexington, KY, for a year before coming to FairmontState.

What you have learned while teaching at Fairmont State? Thatitispossibletolovecoming to work each day and truly enjoy yourjob.E-mail Address: jweekley@fairmontstate.edu

n Tom RepineTomRepineislivinganinteresting

doublelife,teachinghalf-timeasTemporaryAssistantProfessorofGeoscienceatFairmont State while working half-time at the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey.Tomearnedabachelor’sdegreeinEarth and Space Science Education from IndianaUniversityofPennsylvania.Aftera short stint teaching eighth-grade Earth & SpaceScienceinApollo,PA,hereturnedtotheclassroomtoearnamaster’sdegreein

Geology.AftergraduationhebecameacoalgeologistfortheWestVirginiaGeologicaland Economic Survey. After 18 years in that position, Tom took on a position tasked with enhancing the survey’s Educational OutreachOpportunities.Thisresultedinthedevelopment of the RockCamp Program thatcontinuestoprovidein-serviceK-�2educatorswithongoingprofessionaldevelopmentopportunitiesfocusedontheEarth Sciences. Tom has been working with the RockCamp Program and state science teachersforthepast�2years.Inthecourseofthose�2years,hereturnedtoWestVirginiaUniversitytoearnadoctorateinScience Education.

What have you learned while teaching at Fairmont State? Students always find the othermeaningtoastatement.E-mail Address: trepine@fairmontstate.edu

n Cindy keelingCindyKeelingisProgramManagerat

the Educator Resource Center NASA IV&V FacilityandaTemporaryAssistantProfessorofGeoscienceatFairmontState.Sheholdsa Bachelor of Science degree in Education fromFairmontStateCollegeandaMasterofArts degree in Reading Specialization from BaldwinWallaceCollege.Shealsoholdsa specialization in gifted education from West Virginia University and an Educational Leadership degree from Salem International University.Shehas29yearsofteachingexperience in kindergarten through eighth gradesinOhioandWestVirginia.Keelingwasthe2000PresidentialAwardeeforElementary Science Teaching for the state ofWestVirginia.Shehasbeeninstrumentalinsettingupafterschoolscienceprogramsforstudents.Shehaspresentedacrossthe

Jim Weekley Tom Repine Cindy Keeling Todd Ensign

SciTech News March2006 Page3

New Faces Faces Faces Faces Faces FacesU.S. at conferences and workshops for serviceandpreserviceteachers.Sheisalsothe Solar System Educator for the state of WestVirginia.SheservesastheScienceElementary Presidential Awardee (SEPA) representativeforthestateofWestVirginia.SheresidesinFairmontwithherhusbandJohn.

What have you leaerned while teaching at Fairmont State? Thepathtolearningneverends.E-mail Address: ckeeling1@fairmontstate.edu

n Todd enSignTodd Ensign is serving as Temporary

AssistantProfessorofGeoscienceatFairmont State as well as the Education and TechnologySpecialistfortheNASAIV&VEducator Resource Center. While teaching rock climbing to a group of young students, hefoundhimselfspendingmoretimedescribingtheenvironmentofdepositionthat formed the quartzite they were clinging tothanencouragingthemtoclimbtothetop.Atthatmoment,heunderstoodthathisfuturecareerinvolvedteachingscience,and that to realize his dream he would have toreturntocollege.So,hequithisjobasanexperientialeducatorandmovedwithhis wife Jessika to Flagstaff, AZ, where hecompletedaBachelorofScienceinEarth Science Education and a Master of Education in Educational Technology at Northern Arizona University.

Todd followed his wife back East to Morgantown,WV,wheresheispursuingadoctorateatWestVirginiaUniversity.Hewas fortunate to work for several years at The EdVenture Group where he designed andtaughtprofessionaldevelopmentopportunitiesforteachersacrossthestate.During this time he also began working asanadjunctinstructorforFairmontStateteaching Geosphere and Exosphere to elementaryeducationmajors.InOctober2005,heacceptedapositionattheNASAIV&V Facility Educator Resource Center asaScienceandTechnologySpecialist.CurrentlyhedeliversNASAeducationalprogramstoteachersthroughoutWestVirginia.

What have you learned while teaching at Fairmont State? WhileteachingatFairmontState,Ihavebeensurprisedbythediversityofthestudentsinmycourses.

SinceIwasalsoanon-traditionalstudent,Ienjoylearningfromstudentswhytheyhavechosen to return to school after working as machinists,nursesorcomputertechnicians.Ihavehadstudentswhoareyoungerthan20andolderthan60,andIhavediscoveredthatthereasonsforwantingtobecomeateacherareasvariedastheirages.E-mail Address: tensign@fairmontstate.edu

New Staff

n Julia g. ozie Julia Ozie worked as a Library Assistant

IIoncampusforthreeyearsbeforejoiningthestaffattheCollegeofScienceandTechnologyasanAdministrativeSecretary,Senior,inJanuary2006.Heranalyticalskills and ability to learn new techniques in Excel will be invaluable as she undertakes handlingofpurchasingandaccountingforallofthegrantsintheHuntHaughtHalloffice, along with other projects. According to Ozie, “I enjoy my five grandchildren, two children(andtheirspouses),myHavanesedog,Buddy,andofcoursethemanImarriedalongtimeago.(Probablyinthatorder.)”You may find her on long walks, riding a bike, taking off for a long drive on a sunny

day, reading a book or making a quilt. Prior work experiences include Kitchen Design, Office Manager, Photography, Landscaping andCustomerService.Hereducationalbackground includes Accounting, Computer Tech,InteriorDesign,Architecture,ManagementandSales.Email address: jozie@fairmontstate.edu

n RoSeTTa kolaRRosettaKolarisafamiliarfaceina

newrole.InNovember,shewasnamedasthereplacementforSandyShriverintheProgramAssistantIIposition.Inthenewposition,Kolarhandlescollege-widepurchasing,accountingandbudgets,inadditiontoadvisingbothoftheCollegeoffices. Previously, in the Administrative SecretarySeniorposition,shehandledpurchasingandaccountingfortherapidlygrowingnumberofgrantsintheHuntHaught Hall office. Kolar is a state certified Emergency Medical Technician and is currentlypursuinganassociatedegreeatFairmontStateintheParamedicProgram.Email address: rkolar@fairmontstate.edu

Julia G. Ozie Rosetta Kolar

Faculty Milestones in 2005• Dr.DebHemler,AssociateProfessorof

Geoscience Education, earned tenure.• Dr. Phil Yeager, Associate Professor of

Biology,earnedtenure.• Dr.AndreasBaurwaspromotedtoAs-

sociateProfessorofChemistryaandalso

namedastheFacultySenateWebmaster,amajornewleadershippositioncreatedfor2005-06.

• Dr.AlbertMagrowaspromotedtothenew rank of Senior Professor of Biology andPhysicalScience.

• Dr. Mark Flood, Professor of Biology, was awarded a year-long sabbatical to work on hisresearchproject.

• Dr.TiaRichardson,AssociateProfessorof Civil Engineering technology, was on sabbaticalforfall2005.

• Dr.JoeRiesen,ProfessorofMathematics,waselectedPresidentoftheuniversity-wideFacultySenate.

• Dr.PamHuggins,AssistantProfessorof Biology, and her husband, Dr. Luke Huggins,abiologyprofessoratWestVir-giniaWesleyanCollege,welcomedason,Tadeo,inJuly2005.

• Dr.MattScanlon,ProfessorofChemistry,climbedMt.KilimanjaroinJune2005.

Page4 March2006 SciTech News

Student Accomplishments

ChemistrystudentsMelindaHuff,AmyJeffrey, Amy Jaggie, Sam Tenney, Masako Shimamoto,JenniferCarlile,andHollyDebolt,alongwithchemistsAndreasBaur,Matt Scanlon, and Erica Harvey traveled toWashington,D.C.,Aug28-30,2005,forthe 230th National Meeting and Exposition oftheAmericanChemicalSociety.Variousmembersofthegroupgavethefollowingpresentationsatthemeeting:

• Andreas Baur, Erica Harvey, Matthew Scanlon: “Teaching General Chemistry MasteryandOutcome-Based”

•MelindaHuff,MeganDamm,AmyJaggie,AmyJeffrey,DanaCalica,JillTaylor, Andreas Baur: “Science Activi-tiesforHomeschoolers”

• Matthew Scanlon, Erica Harvey, Andreas Baur: “Teaching Analytical Chemistry by MasteryandOutcome-BasedMethods”

• Erica Harvey, Siegfried Bleher, Melinda Huff, Amy Jaggie, Amy Jeffrey: “Yoga as a Learning Enhancement in Online QuantumChemistry”Commentsfromthestudentswerevery

positive. Amy Jeffrey commented, “I had a

American Chemical Society MeetingblastduringourtriptoD.C.Itwasaneye-opening experience to see how huge the field ofchemistryactuallyis.ItwasawonderfulexperiencetoseethebigworldofchemistryoutsideofFSU.”

ForSamTenney,thewholetripwasa tremendous learning experience. “We wereabletoattendseveralveryinterest-ingpresentationsandwewerealsoabletomeetwithrecruitersfromseveralgraduateschoolsaroundthenation.Thetripmadeforanexcellentadditiontomyresume.Inourfree time we had the pleasure of taking in the sightsofD.C.andeatingexcellentcuisine.Iwoulddoitalloveragaininaheartbeat.”

Amy Jaggie “was overwhelmed with the amountofpeoplewhoattendedthemeetingandthewomanwhomadeavideoofdanc-ingtoaidinlearningchemistrywillforeverbe stuck in my mind. She was very enthusi-astic!”

Masako Shimamoto, who is from Japan, notes, “For me, it was kind of inspiring, be-causetherewerealotofpeoplefromdiffer-ent countries there... I liked it, and if I have another chance to attend it, I definitely will.”

Undergraduate Research Presented at CapitolOnWednesday,February�,twoFair-

montStatestudentsfromtheCollegeofSci-ence and Technology presented their work attheThirdAnnualUndergraduateResearchDayattheCapitol.Theevent,heldintheCapitolRotunda,isdesignedtohelpmem-bers of the State Legislature and Executive Branchunderstandtheimportanceofunder-graduate research by talking directly with the studentswhomtheseprogramsimpact.

MelindaHuff,achemistrymajorengagedin biochemistry research with Dr. Mark Flood, presented her poster entitled “Gene Mutations May Lead to Higher Risk for HeartDiseaseinObeseWestVirginians.”

Thepredominanceofcoronaryarterydisease(CAD)continuestorise.ContributingfactorsforCADincludelifestyle,geneticsandhighlevelsofcholesterol,triglyceridesandhomocysteine.Huffstudiedthehomocys-teinelevelsofanobeseWestVirginiapatientpopulationtodetermineifamutantformofagenecausedtheirhigherlevelsofhomocys-teine.

SeniorcomputersciencemajorMichael

Warepresentedhissummerresearchresults,entitled “Using the Common Criteria to Elicit Software Security Requirements.” His on-campusfacultyadvisorisDonTobin.Ware’sresearchfocusedonbuildingquality,vulnerability-freesoftware.Hisapproachtosatisfyingtheneedtoaddresssecurityissuesinthesoftwaredevelopmentpro-cessistheuseofaninternationalstandard,theCommonCriteria,tospecifysecurityrequirementsinadditiontonormalsoftwarerequirements.

Andrew Baer and Kabir Shakya’s computer science work on “Analysis and DetectionofSteganographyApplications”withfacultymentorDonaldTobinwasalsoacceptedforpresentation.Bothstudentshave graduated and are working, so they wereunabletopresent.

Thestudentsappliedfortheprivilegeofpresenting their work. The Steering Commit-teefortheeventisstatewideandmadeupofmembersfromMarshall,WVU,Shepherd,andWheelingJesuitCollege.Moreinformationcanbefoundathttp://www.marshall.edu/urdc/.

Environmental AwardThestudentenvironmentalclubSTAND

(Students Taking Action in Nature’s De-fense)receivedthe2ndplace2005Out-standing Achievement in Environmental StewardshipAwardfromtheWVCollegiateEnvironmental Network. The group received a plaque and check for the award.

Applied Mathematics Research

Dr. Yi Wang, Assistant Professor of Mathematics,receivedaNASAWestVirginiaSpaceGrantConsortiumResearchEnhancement grant for his project entitled “A NHPP Software Reliability Model with a Time-DependentFailureRate.”The$6,000grantrunsfromNovember�,2005-June�5,2006.Wangwillsupporttwostudentswiththisgrant.

Wangisalsoservingasamentorforstudent researcher John Boker, whose project on “An adaptive multilevel quadrature algorithmforonedimensionalintegration”issupportedbya$�,500UndergraduateRe-searchgrantfromFairmontStatefor2006.

SciTech StudentForum in Vista

Sincethefallof2005,over�40studentstaking science and technology courses have signedupforthenewSciTechStudentForuminVista,whichprovidesstudentswith helpful information such as how to find atutor,howtoprepareforanadvisingap-pointment,andopportunitiesforinternshipsandscholarships.Informationaboutcollegeactivitiesislistedonthecalendaranddoorschedulesoffacultymembersareavailablewith a click of the mouse. Online tutors are evenavailableintheforum.

To sign up, students who are taking coursesintheCollegeofScienceandTech-nology fill out an electronic form that can befoundinaGroupAnnouncementattheendoftheirlistofcoursesinVista.Alumni,faculty,staff,andinterestedotherscanjointhe forum by emailing Erica Harvey at eharvey@fairmontstate.edu.

SciTech News March2006 Page5

JeremyW.Bartholow,seniortechnol-ogyeducationmajorand200�graduateofEast Fairmont High School, received the BachelorofScienceAcademicAchievementAward in Technology Education.

JasonA.Buttrey,aseniorarchitecturalengineeringtechnologymajoranda200�graduateofWilliamstownHighSchool,re-ceivedtheBaccalaureateAchievementAwardin Architectural Engineering Technology.

DustinT.Cogar,ajuniortechnologyeducation major and 2002 graduate of Lewis CountyHighSchool,receivedtheWalterF.Phillips Jr. Endowed Scholarship.

Kelly L. Gank, a senior graphics technol-ogymajorand200�graduateofSouthernGarrettHighSchool,receivedtheBacca-laureateAchievementAwardinGraphicsTechnology.

William D. Hawkins, a senior electron-icsengineeringtechnologymajorand�992graduateofWilliamstownHighSchool,receivedtheBaccalaureateAchievementAward in Electronics Engineering Technology.

DavidJ.Johnson,aseniordoublemajor-

TheFairmontStateAmericanSocietyof Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student Club continuestobeactiveinprofessional,socialandserviceorientedactivities,asevidencedby receipt of the “Most Outstanding Student Club” award from ASCE National for 2005. ThedesignandanalysisofapedestrianbridgefortheMarionCountySoccerCom-plexisalargeclubprojectcurrentlyunderway.

The club’s “Consistent-C-33” Concrete Canoe finished 12th in the nation at the 18th AnnualNationalConcreteCanoeCompeti-tionhostedbyClemsonUniversityonJune24-27, 2005. Led by Patrick Guthrie, Chair, and Greg Wilson, Co-Chair, a fifth place finish was earned in the men’s sprint and a fourth place finish in the oral presentation. FairmontStatewastheonlyWestVirginiainstitutioninvitedtoparticipateinthena-tional event, and the team’s 12th place finish isthebestshowingatthenationaleventfortheVirginia’sregionin�0years.Thisactivi-typrovidedthestudentswiththeopportunitytoexperimentwithdifferentmaterialsandrealize the versatility of concrete in meeting challengingdesignapplications.

Theclub’s3rdAnnualSummerTechni-calConferencewasheldonJune2,2005attheFairmontHolidayInnwiththetheme“Homeland Security and Natural Disasters.”

Scholarships and Awards 2005

The2006eventwillbeheldoncampusandthe club asks everyone to mark your calen-dar for the first Thursday in June 2006.Sixtoeightprofessionaldevelopmenthoursshouldbeavailableforattendingthisevent.

American Society of Civil Engineers Student Club

For more information on ASCE and en-gineeringtechnologyprogramsatFS,e-mailTia Richardson, P.E., Associate Professor, at trichardson@fairmontstate.edu or via telephoneat(304)367-4629.

inginmathematicsandmatheducationanda�988graduateofMcDowellHighSchoolin Erie, PA, received the James A. LaRue Mathematics Award and the Eleanor M. Ford OutstandingSeniorinScienceAward.

BillyJ.Kennedy,amechanicalengineer-ingtechnologymajoranda2000graduateofWestGreeneHighSchool,receivedtheBac-calaureateAchievementAwardinMechani-cal Engineering Technology.

JillR.Mehaulic,aseniorsafetyandenvironmentalengineeringtechnologymajorand200�graduateofFairmontSeniorHighSchool,receivedtheBaccalaureateAchieve-ment Award in Safety Engineering Technol-ogy.

JordanW.Moran,achemistrymajorand2003graduateofGraftonHighSchool,receivedtheOutstandingFreshmanChemis-tryAward.

MelissaA.Moury,aseniorchemistrymajorand�994graduateofPrestonHighSchool,receivedtheOutstandingSeniorChemistryAward,fundedbytheWilliamC.RuoffMemorialFund.

Frank M. Muldoon, a junior aviation ad-ministration major and 2003 graduate of Pike ViewHighSchool,receivedtheBachelorofScienceAcademicAchievementAwardinAviationTechnology.

GaborI.Nagy,aseniorcivilengineer-ingmajoranda�997graduateofDoboIstvan Gimnazium Eger, 3300, received the BaccalaureateAchievementAwardinCivilEngineering Technology and the Outstanding InternationalStudentAward.

TimothyB.Riley,acomputersciencemajor and a 2001 graduate of Lewis County Highschool,receivedtheOutstandingStu-dentinComputerScienceAward,fundedbythe Ernest W. Frye Memorial Fund.

Jamie L. Smith and Jaye L. Smith, biol-ogymajorsandsisterswhobothgraduatedfrom East Fairmont High School in 1998, wereco-recipientsoftheOutstandingSeniorBiologyStudentAward.

HollyDebolt,achemistrymajorand2002 graduate of East Fairmont High School, received the Eleanor M. Ford Outstanding Junior Endowed Scholarship.

Civil engineering technology students and faculty advisor Tia Richardson with their award-winning canoe, “Consistent C-33,” at the national competition in Clemson, SC.

Page6 March2006 SciTech News

BiotechnologySummer Camp

Anewcampinthesummerof2005wasaBiotechnologycampforhighschoolstudents. Twenty students in the week-long daycamp,heldAugust8-�2,2005,learnedsophisticatedbiotechnologytechniquesbyactuallypracticingtheminthelaboratory.Specifically, participants isolated DNA from their hair and cheek cells and made copies of some of their DNA, created “glowing” bacteria and isolated the “glowing” protein (GFP -green fluorescent protein) from these bacteria,andseparateddyes,DNAandproteinsviaelectrophoresis.Studentshadachancetouseexpensiveresearchinstru-mentationsuchasvariablevolumepipettesandagaroseandacrylamideelectrophoresisequipment.StaffmembersincludeddirectorMark Flood, faculty members Steve Roof andSarahDodson,andundergraduatestu-dentsBonnieFreeman,MelindaHuff,DanaCalicaandAmyJaggie.The2006campwillbeheldAugust7-��andisopentoareahighschoolstudents.

CSI Summer CampThepopularCSIsummercampwasheld

July25-29,2005.Thirtystudentsintheweek-long day camp learned forensic sci-ence techniques and then worked in teams to designcrimescenesforotherteamstosolve.

education major with a science specializa-tion, is currently placed at the ERC for a servicelearningopportunity.InMarch,theERC will bring the inflatable StarLab to the FairmontStatecampusforteachertraining.The ERC also organizes GLOBE training. GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) is a worldwide hands-on,primaryandsecondaryschool-basededucationandscienceprogram(http://www.globe.gov), and Todd Ensign is the GLOBE representative for the state of WestVirginia.

TheSOCgrant,whichstartedinApril2004,isfundedfor$388,�03over5years.Thisgrantsupportsonestaffmemberwithtravelandsupplies.ValerieGravesheldthestaffpositionuntilNovemberof2005,andthe position is currently being filled. The staff member runs “Day in the Park,” over-sees interns, and makes classroom visits to deliverNASAcurricularmaterials.

Science Education Partners with NASA IV&V FacilityContinued from page 1

Outreach

Example techniques include fiber analysis, powderanalysis,hairanalysis,bloodspat-ter and bullet hole analysis, fingerprint and footprintanalysis.Staffmembersincludeddirector Mark Flood, Steve Roof, Dean Van Bibber,andundergraduatestudentsBonnieFreeman,MelindaHuff,DanaCalica,AmyJaggie, Amy Clark, Samantha Chapman, and Masako Shimamoto. The 2006 camp will beheldJuly24-28andisopento7thgradersfromGEAR-UPschools.

Mark Flood’s CSI programs in Kids Col-legewerementionedattheendofanarticleentitled “Crime Seen” in the December issue ofEdutopia: The New World of Learn-ing. http://www.edutopia.org/magazine/ed�article.php?id=Art_�409&issue=dec_05

Project AMPLE Students Learn Math, Science, Technology

Project AMPLE (Action Math and Phys-ics Laboratory Experiences) Extended is a free,residentialsummerenrichmentprograminscience,mathematics,engineeringandcomputertechnologyforcurrentseventh-grade students from designated GEAR-UP middleschools.Facultyandstudentsfrommany College programs help with AMPLE, includingchemistry,math,computerscience,civilandsafetyengineeringtechnology,graphicsandbiology.Theprogramisco-directed by Stephanie Yoho, Amy Stevenski,

Project AMPLE students practice safe chemical handling techniques during a reactive dye activity that connects art with science.

Dr. Susan Goodwin, and Dr. Erica Harvey. Evening activities are directed by Michael Belmear,VicePresidentforStudentAffairs,andhisstaff.

The2006camprunsfromJune�8-29.Applications must be postmarked by April 5 andareavailableontheweb.(Gotohttp://www.fscwv.edu/gearup/andchooseProjectAMPLE from the list at the left.)

Biology Professor in Governor’s Honors Academy

Dr.PamelaDaveyHuggins,AssistantProfessorofBiologyatFSU,hasbeenchosentoteachcoursesontheenvironmentandongeneticsandsocialissues,includingstemcellsandcloning,attheGovernor’sHonorsAcademy.FairmontStateishostingtheacademyeachsummerfrom2005-2007.Designedtostimulateandsupportacademicexcellenceineducationthroughanintensive,residentialsummerprogram,theGHAisofferedwithoutcostto�65ofthestate’stopachievingrisingseniorsinhighschool.

Twostudentsfromeachcountyplusad-ditionalstudentsfromastatewidepoolareselectedtoattendtheAcademy.Thepurposeis to recognize, encourage and reward outstandingyoungpeoplewhoseacademicand/or arts work demonstrates excellence. For information call Dr. J. Robert Baker at (304)367-4260.

SciTech News March2006 Page7

Place),NorthMarionHigh,PhilipBarbourHigh,SouthHarrisonHigh,TrinityChris-tian,TygartsValleyHighandUniversityHigh (first place.)

The first and second place teams go ontothestatewideeventsponsoredeachFebruary by the Federal Energy Technology Center (FETC) and the U.S. Department of Energy. The winner of the FETC event representsWestVirginiaintheNationalScienceBowlheldeachMayinWashington,D.C.

Science After School Program Begins March 27

TheSpring2006ScienceAfterSchoolenrichmentprogramatFairmontState,taughtbyelementarypreserviceteachersunderthedirectionofDr.DebHemler,Geo-science Education Coordinator, and super-vised by Jo Ellen Snider, science methods instructor,beginsMonday,March27.

Themesfortheelementaryprogramsare “Kitchen Science,” where students will investigatethescienceyoumightnotexpectto find in household items, and “Explor-ingPluto,”inwhichstudentswillexploretheconditionsontheoutermostplanetandmoons with the help of NASA New Horizon materials.

Thecostis$25foreachsection,andstudents may enroll in both sections. Enroll-ment is on a first-come, first-served basis. An applicationformfromaparentorguardianisrequired.Formoreinformation,callDr.DebHemlerat(304)367-4393.

FS Hosts Regional Science Fair

TheNorthCentralWestVirginiaRe-gional Science, Engineering and Energy Fairfor2006willbeheldatFairmontStateonFriday,March3,andSaturday,March4.Formoreinformationaboutthefair,contactDwightHarris,ChairoftheDepartmentofComputerScience,Math,andPhysics(dharris@fairmontstate.edu), (304) 367-4714.

Inlastspring’sfairatFairmontState,9�entrantswerejudgedintheJuniorDivision(6ththrough9thgrades),and3entrantswerejudgedintheSeniorDivision(�0ththrough�2thgrades).CountiesrepresentedwereDoddridge(37entries),Gilmer(8entries),Harrison(8entries)andMarion(42entries.)

Theninecategoriesforentries(withaJuniorandSeniorDivisionforeach)wereenergy; engineering; botany; zoology; chemistryandbiochemistry;earthandspacescience;physics,mathandcomputers;medi-cine,healthandmicrobiology;andbehav-ioralandsocialsciences.

NumerousCollegefaculty,staffandstu-dentsassistwiththesciencefaireachyear.

The Science Bowl, co-organized by RESA and FS College of Science and Technology,washeldoncampusonDe-cember�5,2005.Highschoolstudentsfrom�2regionalhighschoolsparticipatedinthecompetition,whileFSfaculty,staffand students and RESA volunteers served as moderators, judges, timekeepers, and scorekeepers. Participating schools included BridgeportHigh(SecondPlace),FairmontSr. High, Lewis County High, Liberty High, Lincoln High, Morgantown High (Third

America/FS Counts tutoring sessions provide opportunities for math-proficient college students to be supportive role models, in addition to helping younger students with specific math difficulties.

America/FS CountsInconjunctionwiththeFairmontState

GEAR-UP Partnership Grant, the America/FairmontStateCountsprogramprovidedfreemathtutoringtostudentsin5ththrough8thgradeswhowereexperiencingmathdif-ficulties during the fall of 2005.

Theprogram,supervisedbyPamKabul-ski and coordinated by Donna Yergovich Nu-zum, was held on campus. Susan Goodwin’s matheducationstudentswhoparticipatedastutorsinAmericaCountsincludedAshleyWilson,MichelleKnicely,andJanelleMur-ray.Severalpre-servicemathteachersalsopresentedtheirlessonsattheafterschoolprogram at East Park Elementary: Tara Black, Marcia Manley, Tracy Shingleton, Justin Kifer, Vanessa Rickert, and Heather Yoho. For more information about the pro-gram,call(304)367-4579.

RESA VII Science Bowl

Campus Visits!FairmontStatehostsCampusVisita-

tionDaysinthefallandthespringeachyear.ThespringeventwillbeheldonSaturday,March25,2006,forhighschoolstudents,theirfamiliesandadultswhoaredecidingwheretocontinuetheireducation.Facultyandadministra-torsfromtheCollegeofScienceandTechnologyarepresentattheeventstoprovideinformationaboutourprogramsandmajors.ToursoftheCollegeareprovided upon request. To find out about upcomingCampusVisitationDaysandother ways to visit the campus, click on the Visiting Fairmont State link on the bottomleftofourhomepage(www.fairmontstate.edu)orcall(800)641-5678, Ext. 2, or (304) 367-4892.

Page8 March2006 SciTech News

depaRTmenT of Biology, ChemiSTRy and geoSCienCe

Fairmont State continues to reap benefits as a Network Research Institution in the West Virginia IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (WV-INBRE) pro-gram. The main emphasis of WV-INBRE istostrengthenbiomedicalundergraduateprograms with educational and research links acrossWestVirginia’suniversities.

Through WV-INBRE, FSU faculty members Dr. Mark Flood and Dr. Albert Magroeachreceived$�50,000peryearforfive years as part of a National Institutes of Healthgrantinitiallyawardedin2004.Thefundsareusedtosupportextensiveresearchprogramsbythetwoprincipalinvestigatorsandtheirresearchteams.FairmontStatestudentsinvolvedduringthepastyearin-cludeDanaCalica,MelindaHuff,ContessaHill,RichardHerrington,MattThorn,Justin

Biomedical Research Well Supported

Biomedical researchers Dana Calica, Bonnie Freeman, Sarah Dodson, Mark Flood, and Melinda Huff enjoy the scenery during a break from a scientific conference they attended in Salt Lake City, UT last October.

Botany of DesireDonTrisel,AssociateProfessorofBiol-

ogy, organized four multisensory book dis-cussionsessionsforFairmontState’sSpring2005 Celebration of the Book, focused on The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World,byMichaelPollan.Triseldesigned the sessions around the four book chaptersthatexploredhumandesiresandspecific plants that exploit those desires, includingsweetness(apple),beauty(tulip),intoxication(marijuana)andcontrol(potato.)Faculty,communitymembers,advancedbi-ologystudentsandhonorsstudentsattendedtheevents,whichinvolvedseeing,hear-ing, tasting, and smelling. Each discussion wasledbyamemberoftheadministration.Sessionparticipantssampledcoffeesandchocolates,twoofthemostcommon(legal)mind-alteringsubstancesinhumanculture,and enjoyed a potato potluck and an apple tasting.

Dental and Optometry Admission Test Insider

Ever considered who writes those brain-challengingpre-professionalexams?Organic chemist Andreas Baur finished up a 5-yeartermontheOrganicTestConstructionCommitteeoftheAmericanDentalAssocia-tionthisyear.AccordingtoDr.Baur,serviceonthecommitteerequiredtraveltoChicagoonceortwiceayearforanintensive2-daymeetingwithtwocolleaguestodrafttestsfortheDAT(DentalAdmissionTest)andOAT(OptometryAdmissionTest)aswellasthedevelopmentofnewquestionsforthetestbanks.

Morgan,MeganDamn,JaimeMeadows,andMaryPrescott.Dr.Flood’sgrantincludedsupportforaresearchtechnician,FSUbiol-ogygraduateBonnieFreeman,andanadditionalfacultymember,Dr.SarahDodson,whojoinedthebiologyprogramlastApril.Dr.Magro’sgranthassupportedRe-beccaMerritt,aresearchassociatewiththetitleTemporaryAssistantProfessor,duringthepastyear.Theteamshavegivennumerouspresentationsduringthepasttwoyearsatconferencesinlocationssuch as Toronto, Salt Lake City, UT, and Lexington, VA, in ad-

dition to the WV-INBRE conferences that wereheldatMarshallUniversityandWVU.

Thanks to an additional $100,000 grant from WV-INBRE, major improvements are beingmadetothecampusinformationtech-nology network infrastructure. Specifically, gigabitinternetaccess(withtheassociatedcapabilityofconnectingtoInternet2)anddigitalvideoconferencingcapabilitiesarebeingprovidedfortheprincipalinvestiga-tors.

Duringthespringof2005,FairmontState hosted a Biomedical Speakers Pro-gram supported by WV-INBRE. Faculty and students from WV-INBRE gave presenta-tionsontheirresearchintothefundamentalmechanismsunderlyingimportanthealthproblemssuchascancerandcardiovasculardisease.

EPSCORInstrumentation Grant

SeniorProfessorofBiologyDr.AlbertMagrocompetedsuccessfullyinFall2005for a statewide EPSCoR instrumentation grant. The grant is entitled “Equipment Pro-posal to Enhance Faculty and Undergraduate Research.”

Forensic Science Team VisitsEastern Kentucky University

Jim Weekley, Sarah Dodson, and Matt Scanlon traveled to Eastern Kentucky Uni-versityonJanuary4-5,asrepresentativesoftheinterdisciplinaryForensicScienceProgramOversightCommittee.Underthedirection of Dr. Mark Flood, Professor of Bi-ologyandthenewcoordinatoroftheforensicscienceprogram,theoversightcommitteehasbeenmeetingregularlyduringthe2005-06academicyeartobegintheprocessofpursu-ingnationalaccreditationfortheprogram.

Eastern Kentucky University has gradu-

atedabout250studentsfromtheirforensicscienceprogramsinceitsinceptionin�975andhasoneofthefewforensicsciencepro-gramsaccreditedbytheAmericanAcademyof Forensic Sciences. Weekley, Dodson, andScanlonmetwiththeforensicsciencefaculty at EKU and toured their laboratory facilities.TheFairmontStateteamlearnedvaluableinformationaboutapplyingforac-creditation in general and specifically about designinganewmicroscopycoursetoservestudentsintheprogram.

SciTech News March2006 Page9

Gender-Boggling Questions

BiologyfacultymemberPamelaDaveyHugginsandhersister,FrancesDavey(Ph.D.ABDAmericanStudies),teamedupfor a talk entitled “Is Jamie Lee Curtis a Man?”ThebiologicalandculturalrootsofsexandgenderinAmericansocietywereexaminedduringthestanding-room-onlytalk on November 10, 2005.

depaRTmenT of CompuTeR SCienCe, maTh and phySiCS

DonTobin,AssistantProfessorofCom-puterScience,wasinvitedtoparticipateasamember of the Technical Working Group on Education and Training in Digital Evidence (TWGEDDE), an effort funded jointly by theDepartmentofJustice(DOJ)andtheNa-tionalInstituteofStandardsandTechnology(NIST). The TWGEDDE was comprised of membersoffederalandstatelawenforce-ment officers, the Department of Homeland Security,prosecutingattorneys,universityfaculty,andcurrentcomputerforensicspractitioners. Their task was to develop anddocumenttheeducationalandtraining

Department of Justice Calls on Faculty

FairmontStateUniversitystudentstran-sitioningfrombeingstudentstobeingteach-ersofmathandscienceparticipatedinacampus workshop designed to provide them

Future Teachers Participate in Calculator Workshop

Preservice math teachers Amber Hayhurst and Heather Yoho learn how to use the TI-84 calculator for data acquisition.

withtheinformationtheyneedtomaximize the use of calculators in theirclassrooms.

The workshop, presented by Dr. Patsy Fagan of Drake UniversityinconjunctionwithTexasInstruments,Inc.,wasof-feredthroughagrantthecompanyprovidedtoOhioStateUniversity.Students attending the workshop receivedmorethan$300worthofequipmentincludingateachermodelTI-84PlusSilvereditioncalculator.

“It is impressive, but no sur-prise,that20FSUstudentsgave

uptwodaysoftheirvacationtoparticipateinthisvaluableprofessionaldevelopmentopportunity,”saidFSUmathprofessorDr.Susan Goodwin. “Every student I talked to

felt the workshop was definitely worth the sacrifice.”

Fagan said students attending the work-shopreceivedabroadviewofthetechnol-ogytheycanapplyintheirclassrooms.TheTI-84teachermodelcanbeusedtomeasurelightintensityandtemperatureandasamo-tiondetector.

Angela Merrifield, a senior from Fair-mont,wasamongthoseparticipatingintheworkshop. Merrifield, who is an elementary educationmajorwithamathspecialty,willbestudentteachingthisspring.

“We used this calculator model some in ourclasses.But,here,we’vehadthechanceto play around with it,” Merrifield said of the exposure to the TI-84 during the workshop.

Shesaidshewillbeabletoapplymuchofwhatshelearnedinherclassroom,includingthecalculator’scapacitytosaveprograms.

needsoffuturedigitalforensicsanalysts.This field is expected to grow significantly inthecomingyearsduetothepervasive-nessofcomputingdevicesinoureverydaylives,andthecriminaljusticesystemwillneed to keep ahead of criminals to analyze digitalevidenceanddetectcriminalactiv-ity. The TWGEDDE met 6 times at various locationsthroughouttheUnitedStatesinthepast year. The final document, outlining the desired requirements and skills of associates, bachelor’s,andgraduatedegrees,aswellasongoingprofessionaldevelopment,isex-pectedtobepublishedinthespringof2006.

GalenHansen,ProfessorofPhysics,and

DonTobin,AssistantProfessorofComputerScience,haveeachreceived$�0,000NASAPartnershipGrantsthroughtheUndergraduateResearchInitiativeProgram.TheUndergrad-uateResearchInitiativeProgramisa$50,000partnershipwiththeNASAIV&Vfacility.

Hansen’sgrantwillenablehimtodevelopthecoursesyllabi,outlinesandactivitiesfortwoprototypeundergraduatecoursesthatwillbeusedtoteachaselectgroupofstudentsthebasicsofsystemsanalysis/softwareengineeringandsoftwarevalidation and verification (V&V), including

Faculty Participate in NASA URI Grant ProgramtheSoftwareCostReduction(SCR)method.ThecoursesaredesignedtopreparestudentsforapossibleReturnonInvestment(ROI)undergraduateprojectin2006/2007.Thegrant provides for Hansen to take two gradu-atesoftwareengineeringcoursesfromWVU(Fall2005andSpring2006),andtocollabo-ratewithFSUfacultymembersandNASAIV&Vpersonnelindevelopingthecourses.

Tobin’sresearcheffortwillfocusonpredicting the likelihood of faults in large softwaredevelopmentprojects.Currentpredictionmodelsarebasedonparametersfromolderprogramminglanguagesand

donotaccountfortheincreasedinterde-pendenceofcurrentsoftwaresystems.Intoday’serawheresoftwaresystemsaresafety-critical,andsoftwarevulnerabilitiescan be exploited by hackers, criminals, or roguenation-states,wemustensuresys-temsareadequatelytestedandvalidatedtobefault-free.Afteranextensiveliteraturesearch,acoupleofnewmodelswillbede-velopedandtestedagainstNASAhistoricalprojectdatatoexplorethevalueoftheircontributingparameters.MichaelWareandKabir Shakya, seniors in Computer Sci-ence,arebeingfundedthroughthisgrant.

Biology

Page�0 March2006 SciTech News

depaRTmenT of TeChnology

FourteamsofFairmontStateUniver-sity students worked for months in 2005 designing,buildingandprogrammingtheirfinal projects – working robots. The eight students were seniors majoring in Electron-ics Engineering Technology in the College ofScienceandTechnology.KimMurphy,Associate Professor of Safety/Environmen-tal Engineering Technology, supervised the seniorcapstonecourse.

“It really takes all their knowledge of electronics,mechanics,computerprogram-ming,”MurphytoldTheTimesWestVirgin-ian in a December, 2005 interview. “It’s quiteachallenge.”

Projectideaswereapprovedbyafacultycommitteebeforethedesignphasebegan.The process of building the robots takes morethanonesemester.Someofthestu-dentssaidtheyspentasmuchas30hoursaweek on their projects for months. At the end ofthecapstonecourse,theypresentedtheirprojects and were graded on their work.

ChrisNicholsandSteveBowerscreatedthe B and N Fire Extinguisher for their proj-ect. Their robot, which could aid firefighters, can travel through a maze while checking for a flame. It can detect whether a flame is present and then travel to the flame and extinguishit.

Derek Gilmore and Jonathan Cable built the “Lazy Drinker” Automatic Beverage Dispenser,amachinecapableofdispensingpreprogrammedamountsofliquidintoacup.

Theusercanprogramincodesasrecipesforcertain drinks made from different amounts of liquid and the machine will “mix” the drinks.

Brandon Sickles and Dustin Baker developed the D & B Maze Mapping Robot, which is designed to navigate mazes and communicatewithanotherrobotthatdrawsa maze on a computer using Microsoft Paint. The robot that travels through the mazes navigatesusinginfraredandcommunicatesusingradiofrequenciesthatareinturnbeingreceivedbytheotherrobot.Theinforma-tionbeingreceivedisthendecipheredbytherobot and it knows which way to draw the pathonthecomputerscreen.

“It could explore places that humans couldn’t go, like a building that’s unstable,” Baker told the Times West Virginian.

Kevin Leyh and Chris Campbell built thePowerTrainTesterforRemotelyOper-atedVehicles.Thegoaloftheprojectwastoacquireperformancedataassociatedwithrunningaremotecontrolcaratdifferentspeedsandmechanicalloadssimulatingrealworlddriving,butinacontrolledandmoni-toredstate.ThisinformationcouldhelpRChobbyistswhoraceorroboticengineerstesttheirvehicles’performancebeforeactuallyhittingtherealroad.

Therobotsthestudentscreatedallhave“real-world” applications and could possi-blyleadtoapatentifthestudentschoosetopursuethatavenue.

Engineering Technology faculty mem-bersKimMurphyandTiaRichardsonhaveearnedrecognitionfromstudentsandfacultycolleagues for their advising skills. Kimber-lyMurphy,AssociateProfessorofSafety/Environmental Engineering Technology, was honored with the Excellence in Academic AdvisingAwardfor2005.

ShesucceedsanotherCollegefacultymember, Civil Engineering Technology facultymemberTiaRichardson,whowonthe2004award.

Theawardispresentedtohonordem-onstratedexcellenceandcommitmentto

Electronics Engineering TechStudents Build Robots

Dustin Baker demonstrates the D & B Maze Mapping Robot that he designed and built with Brandon Sickles (not pictured), a fellow Electronics Engineering Technology senior.

Great Advicethe significant force that academic advisorsplayintheeducation,personaldevelopmentandsuccessoftheiradvisees.

“Kim is dedicated, enthusi-asticandextremelyaccessibletostudents,”saidPamStephens,Coor-dinator of Academic Advising. “As onenominationformstates,‘Shekeeps her office door open to stu-dentsallday,everyday.’Mostim-portantly, she makes a remarkable differenceinthesuccess,growthanddevelopmentofstudents.”

Kim Murphy and Tia Richardson are great examples of advisors who go the extra mile to ensure their students’ success.

Engineering Technology Transported

Dedicatedtechnologyfacultyandstaff,theirfamilymembers,andphysicalplantemployeescollaboratedonaHerculeanef-forttomovetheTechnologydepartmenttoitstemporarynewhomeintheTurleyCenterin time for spring classes. The remarkable transformations include a kitchen turned into acivilengineeringtechnologylab.TheCol-lege of Science and Technology office that waspreviouslylocatedinWallmanHallcannow be found in 322 Turley Center. Luckily, mostphonenumbersareunchanged.Thetemporarymovewasnecessarytoaccommo-daterenovationsandnewconstructionintheTechnologyWingofWallmanHall,expectedtobeginduring2006.

SciTech News March2006 Page��

Alumni

Stay Connected to Fairmont StateName:___________________________________________________________________________

GraduatioN: Year __________major _______________________________________________

address: ________________________________________________________________________

e-mail: _______________________________PhoNe: ____________________________________

i am interested in (check all that apply)

___ Joining the scitech student alumni Forum (electronic forum)

___ Finding out more about the mentoring Program

___ obtaining an alumni spotlight form

____ other (specify) ________________________________

e-mail iNFormatioN to:eharvey@fairmontstate.edu

or mail to:College of science & technology

Fairmont state university1201 locust ave.

Fairmont, WV 26554

FairmontStateofferedseveralgraduatecoursesinscienceeducationlastsummerandmoreareplannedforthesummerof2006 as a way of giving back to the commu-nity.ThecoursesareofferedasPHSC5099SpecialTopics,3credits,forthespecialcostof$33acredit.Theintendedaudienceisteachers seeking professional development credits for pay raises, re-certification and plushours.Supportforthecourseswasob-tained through the Higher Education Policy Commission and the No Child Left Behind initiative.

Facultyforthegraduatecoursestraveltotheteachers’homecountiestooffertheweek-long courses, and then make fol-low-upvisitsduringtheschoolyeartoseehowtheparticipatingteachersimplemented

Graduate Courses in Science EducationinformationfromthecourseswiththeirK-�2students.Duringthesummerof2005,“West Virginia Geol-ogyforTeachers”was offered in Logan, Brooke and Preston counties.PartnersinofferingthecourseincludedDebHemler(Fairmont State), Jack RentonandBobBe-hling(WestVirginiaUniversity)andTomRepine(WestVir-giniaGeologicalandEconomic Survey). “Introduction to GPS

and GLOBE” was offered in 2005 in both HarrisonandMonongaliacounties.Coursefaculty included Todd Ensign and Cindy Keeling (NASA ERC), Tom Repine, Deb Hemler,andTomBerlin(AldersonBroad-dusCollege.)Aspartofthecourserequire-ments,teachershadtoimplementGPSandGLOBE protocols with their students and post the data on the GLOBE web site (http://www.globe.gov).

For the summer of 2006, “Introduction to GPS and GLOBE” will be offered to the teachersofthenorthernpanhandlecounties.ThiscoursehastrulybecomeaWVhighereducationpartnership.ThecoursefacultyfromtheprevioussummerwillbeexpandedtoincludeTinaCartwright(WVStateUniversity), Rico Gazal and Bruce Edinger (Glenville State College), and Rick Landen-berger(WVU).

Another workshop sponsored by the ERC for the summer of 2006 will be “Aero-nautics Materials for Elementary with Lit-erature Integration Activities (AMELIA).” AMELIA is offered in collaboration with Fairmont State Geoscience Education and MarionCountySchoolsandwillprovideelementary teachers an opportunity to work ontheintegrationofsciencecontentandliterature.Thiscourseispendingfundingfrom the Higher Education Policy com-mission and No Child Left Behind. For informationaboutthesummercourses,contactDr.DebHemlerat(304)367-4393(dhemler@fairmontstate.edu).

Teacher Stefan Smolski, from Oak Glen High School in Hancock County, enters data on the GLOBE website during an advanced atmosphere workshop at the ERC.

New MAT Program “so flexible that anyone can do it”

Brooke Prickett and Lea Ann Barnes aretwoofabout30graduatestudentsatFairmontStatewhoarecurrentlypursuingthenewMasterofArtsinTeaching(MAT)degree.TheMATprogramisanattractiveoption for people like Prickett and Barnes, whohaveundergraduatedegreesinsci-ence-related fields. In addition to Barnes and Prickett, 4-5 other students are currently pursuing MAT degrees with specializations inscienceormath.

Alloftheeducationclassesrequiredfortheprogramareonlinegraduatecourses,withtheexceptionofthreeclinicalsspentobservingandstudentteachinginpublicschools. Students take whatever course load they find manageable each semester. As Prickett says, “All of the online classes are so flexible. You can continue with your job, or stay home with your kids while you’re taking classes. You can work at your own pace and take as many classes as you want to at a time. You can take a test at midnight or atsixinthemorning.It’sprettyconvenient.”

Inadditiontograduate-leveleduca-tioncourses,studentsintheMATprogrammustcompletetheundergraduatecontentclasses required for their specific teaching specialization(s). Because Barnes and Prick-ett had taken most of the content courses for a chemistry specialization as part of their undergraduatedegrees,onlyafewadditionalundergraduatecontentcourseswererequired

Continued on page 12

Page�2 March2006 SciTech News

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDFairmont State

Fairmont State UniversityCollege of Science and Technology1201 Locust AvenueFairmont, WV 26554

Mentoring ProgramWearecurrentlyplanningamentoring

program to link entering students in science andtechnologywithupperclassstudentsandalumnifromtheirhomecounties.Thegoalistoprovidenewstudentswithsupport,advice and positive role models as they first encounterthesubstantialexpectationsofcol-lege classwork in science, math and technol-ogy.Theprogramwillstartinthefallof2006.Ifyouareinterestedinlearningmoreabout this program, please contact Erica Har-vey by email at eharvey@fairmontstate.edu orbyphoneat304-367-4498.

New ElectronicForum for Alumni

AllScience,Math,andTechnologyalumniareinvitedtojointhenewelectronicSciTechStudentandAlumniForum.TheforumprovidesagreatopportunitytogetintouchwithfriendsandclassmatesfromyourdaysatFairmontState,aswellasfacultymembers and current students. You can emailpeopleprivatelyintheforumand/ormake public discussion posts. You can also post and/or find information about intern-ships,job,orotherprofessionalopportunities.

Tojoin,youwillneedtoactivate(orre-activate) your unified campus account (UCA).Detailedinstructionsfordoingso can found by following the “SciTech Alumni” link on the College web page (http://www.fairmontstate.edu/academics/CollegeofSciTech).

fortheMAT.ThusbothwomenfoundthemselvesinanundergraduatephysicalchemistrycourseatFairmontStateduringthefallof2006.

Lea Ann Barnes originally completed twoyearsatFairmontStateasanundergrad-uateandthentransferredtoWVU,wheresheearnedaB.S.inMedicalTechnologyin 1988. “After a year of working off-shifts intheclinicallaboratoryatRubyMemorialHospital, every other weekend and at least 2holidaysayear,Idecidedmycareerwasnolongercompatiblewithmyfamilylife.”UponcompletionofherstudentteachingatRobertC.ByrdHighSchoolduringthespring of 2006, Lea Ann Barnes will offi-ciallygraduatewithherMATinMay.Barnesstartedin2003,soherMATcohortwasstillaMarshall/FSUcollaborativeandherdegreewill officially be awarded by Marshall.

Brooke Prickett earned a B.S. in Agri-culture, major in Environmental Protection, December2000,fromWVU.Shehasbeenworking toward the MAT since the fall of 2004, taking about 3 courses each semester, andexpectstocompletetheprograminthespring of 2007. At the same time, she works about 35 hour per week in an optometrist’s office. She limits herself to one on-campus undergraduateclasspersemesterbecauseoftheneedtojuggleherscheduleduringthe

day. According to Prickett, “This program offersanotheroptiontopeoplewhofeelpas-sionately about their field of study and want tosharetheirexcitementwithothers.Whatmakes it great is that you don’t have to drop yourlifetodoit.”

InformationabouttheMATandothergraduateprogramsofferedbyFairmontStateisavailableathttp://www.fairmontstate.edu/graduatestudies/grad_programs.asp.ForinformationabouttheMATdegreewithscience, math or technology specializations, contactDr.DebHemlerat(304)367-4393(dhemler@fairmontstate.edu).

New MAT ProgramContinued from page 11

Alumni continued

Alumni Spotlights Needed

We’d like to hear what you are up to! Happy,successfulalumniareoneofourstrongestrecruitingfeaturesandwenowhave a way to feature alumni profiles on the web(http://www.fairmontstate.edu/admis-sions/undergraduate/spotlight/spotlight_ar-chive.asp).Don’thesitatetosendusapro-file, whether or not you are working in a field relatedtoyourundergraduatemajor.Currentandprospectivestudentsneedtohearhowmanydifferentpathstherearetosuccess.Toobtain a profile form, please contact Erica Harvey by email at eharvey@fairmontstate.eduorbyphoneat(304)367-4498.