NSF Research Experiences for Teachers

The Chicago Science Teacher Research (CSTR) program in 2005-2008

The Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago also had a Research Fellowship Program for 2003-2005. Three fellowships were sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Program. The objectives of the RET program were to provide experiential engineering education to K-14 teachers in the Chicago Area through discovery, and to introduce innovative dissemination of gained knowledge to students and colleagues.

Main highlights of the 2003-2005 RET-NSF Program

	Hands-on experience in a research laboratory
	Engagement with leading researchers in engineering
	Attendance and participation in seminars on emerging technologies and professional development
	Opportunities to enhance delivery of science and engineering education at your school or community college

Emphasis was placed on using state-of-the-art experimental and computational facilities.

Program Description

	Participant teachers engaged in research for either for 4 full-time weeks or 160 hours (arranged based on schedules) during the academic year at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
	Open to K-14 teachers and community college faculty.
	Selection was based on applicant’s resume, essay (200-500 words), and a reference letter from your principal or assistant principal or department head.
	Award includes: $7,400 stipend.

Earlier and on-going NSF RET reports

	Christopher Riff
	Mike Schaefer
	Xiao Zhang

For more information contact:

Prof. C. G. Takoudis [takoudis@uic.edu (312) 355-0859]
Prof. A. A. Linninger [linninge@uic.edu (312) 996-2581]

Fax: (312) 413-4700

851 S. Morgan Street, Chicago, IL 60607-7052.