Contact: Greg Johnston, (505) 277-1816

August 11, 2004

UNM awarded optics/photonics education grant

The University of New Mexico School of Engineering has announced receipt of a major grant to send graduate teaching fellows into Albuquerque Public Schools classrooms. The $1.8 million, three-year award from the National Science Foundation will enhance math and science learning for elementary, mid-school and high school students in West Mesa cluster schools.

Charles Fleddermann, School of Engineering professor and associate dean, is the grant's principal investigator. He says classroom lessons will be designed around the fields of optics and photonics. For example, when students are being taught astronomy and outer space, the graduate fellows might develop activities related to basic optics, culminating with students learning how to build their own telescopes.

Ten UNM graduate students in engineering and science will be selected each school year and matched, as best as possible, with their specialized interests. Fellows begin training during the week prior to the start of school. Fleddermann said partnerships with APS teachers would be for the entire school year.

Other co-principal investigators are Phillip Duryea, College of Education associate dean for research and Beth Everitt, Albuquerque Public Schools superintendent. The NSF goal is to augment the learning experience for teachers to make them better instructors in science and, in turn, stimulate student interest in math and science.

An introduction to the graduate fellows and a reception for participants is scheduled for Aug. 18 at 3:30 p.m. at the Explora! Museum.

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