Teachers Wrap-Up Summer Research at National Magnet Lab

July 15, 2002

Contact:
Pat Dixon
(850) 644-4707
pdixon@magnet.fsu.edu

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A nationally recognized program at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory turns the tables on teachers-making them students for six weeks, learning from laboratory scientists, educators, and from each other. Research Experiences for Teachers is in its 4thyear at the lab and attracted 18 teachers this summer. Twelve participants are from Leon County, representing elementary, middle, and high schools. As the program draws to a close the teachers are preparing to present the results of their research at two events of local interest:

• Research presentations: Thursday, July 18, 1:00
• Curriculum showcase: Friday, July 19, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

During the summer program, teachers are paired with research mentors and spend 6 hours a day on real-world science investigations. For a complete list of the teachers, mentors, and projects, see the following table. The balance of each day is spent with NHMFL science educators on strategies for translating their research experiences into classroom materials and activities for students. RET participants are competitively selected for the program and make a strong commitment to being a leader in science education at their school and at their districts.

The NHMFL RET program, which is supported by the National Science Foundation, is the largest program run by any national laboratory and one of only a few programs that include elementary teachers. Center Director Pat Dixon was an invited speaker at a recent national RET program directors conference in California. Because of the strength and success of the NHMFL RET program, NSF has encouraged the laboratory to conduct a study of RET effectiveness in enhancing science education. The study will analyze data over multiple years and may take two years to complete.

The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (www.magnet.fsu.edu) develops and operates state-of-the-art high-magnetic-field facilities that faculty and visiting scientists and engineers use for research in physics, biology, bioengineering, chemistry, geochemistry, biochemistry, and materials science. Sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the state of Florida, the lab is operated by Florida State University, and its 330,000-square-foot main facility is located in Tallahassee’s Innovation Park. The magnet lab also has facilities at the University of Florida and at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.