Stephen Thompson - US grants

An equipment grant is provided to upgrade the computer facility within the School of Chemical Engineering at Cornell University. The VAX-Cluster will have a significant effect on research projects in the areas of thermodynamics, materials processing, fluid mechanics, biochemical engineering and catalysis. The availability of the proposed equipment will be particularly significant for the following three projects, which are likely to be the heaviest users of the new system. In the area of thermodynamics and surface properties of fluids, theoretical studies are concerned with the development of new equations of state for fluids using perturbation and mean-field theories and computer simulations which will enable the calculation of solid and fluid properties from a molecular-level treatment. In the area of materials processing, non-equilibrium simulations of rapidly cooled interfaces are being performed to study the thermodynamics, structure and kinetics of the dynamic solid/melt interface produced by laser heating, for example. In the area of fluid mechanic, studies are being made of the flow of suspensions through branched conduits where the size of the particles is comparable to that of the channel. In the area of thermodynamics, the simulations are being used to investigate new phenomena for which no experimental data exist, for example, in the study of nucleation and small drops. The first study showing spontaneous phase separation in a pore and the existence of a capillary critical point different from that of a bulk fluid is now available. In the area of materials processing, the simulations provide fundamental understanding of the detailed motion and properties of rapidly moving solid/liquid interfaces not available elsewhere. The velocity temperature time profile can be produced theoretically, whereas experimentally, the instantaneous temperature is virtually inaccessible. Insight into the reasons for increased dopant segregation coefficients at the interface is also possible through simulation, though much less readily available through current theories or experiment. In the area of fluid mechanics, novel models accounting for the finite size of the particles are being developed where the asymptotic approximations of traditional theories are no longer valid and the hydrodynamic interactions between the particles and the wall become important. Thermodynamic studies of surface properties are applicable to many purification and separation processes including the removal of unwanted carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from natural gases, and separations for hydrocarbons including xylenes and aromatics. The studies of pores are applicable to capillary permeability in tight sands. Other projects are applicable to surfactant behavior. The materials processing studies are applicable to a wide range of rapid solidification techniques including laser annealing, laser glazing and ion implantation. The fluid mechanics studies are a prototype for a broad range of techniques such as filtration and chromatography. One application under study is that of cell motion in microcirculation. The studies can also provide insight in the design of new separation processes, e.g. enhanced oil recovery. Support is recommended at the level of $50,000 in FY 1987 for partial support of a VAX-Cluster System.

This project aims to meet the increasing demand for technicians trained in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. The major equipment purchased includes computer hardware and software to support five GIS workstations. These make possible the storing, integration and analysis of information about land aspects including ownership, what is on it, and natural resources. Associate degree programs in GIS, Civil Engineering Technology and Surveying are affected by this project. The award is being matched by an equal amount from the principal investigator's institution. //

Research programs in the areas of thermodynamics, biophysics and materials processing make extensive use of interactive computer graphics to help analyze computer simulation data by a visualization of the physical processes at work. Most of the projects use an atomic-level description of the physical system coupled to an appropriate statistical mechanics-based simulation technique (Molecular Dynamics or Monte Carlo) to produce files containing the positions of all the atoms or molecules in the system. These data files are then analyzed using interactive computer graphics. The impact of a computer graphics analysis strongly influences projects such as the design of liquid crystalline polymers, the stability of proteins against denaturation and the design of new materials such as rapidly solidified metal alloys, as described in the proposal. In a number of applications, particularly interfacial phenomena, the ability to make a videotape of the process is invaluable. Interfacial phenomena may involve capillary condensation in pores, membrane fusion or Molecular beam Epitaxy of semiconductor materials, but all profit by the visualization offered by an approximation of real-time motion of the substances under different conditions. High- performance graphics workstations linked to an appropriate video imaging system are used to bring about this visualization.

The Chemistry Department is purchasing equipment for CHEMTREK II, a second generation, year-long, freshman chemistry majors program which combines small-scale chemistry with computer- interfaced experiments and simulations, a new type of small- scale quantitative spectrophotometric instrumentation, and video-enhanced problem-solving techniques. The major equipment items are microplate spectophotometric readers (for small-scale quantitative spectrophotometric measurements), computers with interfaces, software and, printers, and a microscope camera system for recording small-scale phenomena. This program brings together students with common goals to develop new and innovative experiments, maximizes faculty-beginning student interactions. The goal of the program is to motivate beginning chemistry majors and to integrate theory, practice, and applications of chemistry in the undergraduate curriculum.

This project is for computer laboratory equipment to support the development of an integrated land and water resources analysis curriculum. Lancaster County Pennsylvania offers excellent opportunities for studying interactions between land use activities and the resulting impacts on local water quantity and quality, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. We propose to integrate and enhance three courses--a GIS course, a hydrology course and a water resource management course-- through the use of computers. This proposal will allow undergraduate students to develop a better understanding of environmental systems. They will also gain meaningful experience with two major uses of computers in environmental analysis, namely GlS and simulation.

This project aims to develop and distribute a curriculum for an associate degree in the fields of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS). The projected need for trained GIS and GPS technicians is high since, within the next decade, every plane, ship and nearly every vehicle on the highway will use GIS and GPS; and governments will rely on the technologies to track, tabulate, and map environmental census and tax data. In cooperation with a network of eight community colleges, an innovative curriculum is being planned and tested, which would link the environmental, legal, and business experience of the partner colleges with the lead institution's experience in GIS/GPS and engineering technology. The curriculum, and all support materials, are being used as a vehicle to ease articulation between other schools (secondary, two-year and four-year) which are interested in adding GIS/GPS to their curricula. The materials will also be disseminated through national publishers, journals, and a national educational association.

This project expands a successful GK-12 program that was originally focused on engineering problem solving to a cross-campus program with the broader theme of authentic inquiry in all STEM disciplines. The institutionalized program is called the Project Partners in Inquiry (Project Pi) because it promotes inquiry as an instructional approach through partnerships between STEM graduate students and grade 3-8 teachers. GK-12 Fellows and their institutional counterparts (Pi Fellows) partner with science and mathematics teachers to develop the teaching skills of the Fellows, foster STEM content gain among teachers, and enrich K-12 students. learning of STEM concepts and applications. The Track 2 project reflects a unique partnership between Richland County School Districts I and II, three USC Colleges (Engineering and Information Technology, Science and Mathematics, and Education), the Graduate School, Office of Research, Office of Information Technology, and the SC Commission on Higher Education. The partners are contributing over $900,000 in cost share to this project, and plan to provide $100,000 per year beyond the Track 2 grant to support STEM students to work in K-12 schools and further the goals of GK-12. Institutionalization of GK-12 at USC will occur though the administration of Pi Fellowships by the Graduate School, the management of the Pi Project by the newly established Center for Teaching and Learning, and the adoption of a degree-credit graduate course (GRAD 800) that prepares STEM students for GK-12 activities.

The Intellectual Merit of this project includes an innovative inquiry-based learning cycle approach that enables Fellows and teachers to use inquiry in instruction. Fellows and Teacher Partners also learn cooperatively from one another. Other major program elements include the GK-12 Retreat, GRAD 800, the GK-12 Spring Seminar, and the GK-12 Institute for Teachers. The project is designed so that Fellows can help implement and develop lessons based on their disciplinary knowledge. Research will be conducted to determine what factors contribute to successful partnerships and on the extent to which the graduate student.s discipline and the teacher.s grade level assignment affect the partnership.s effectiveness.

Broader impacts are reflected in the nature of the targeted schools, which include large numbers ofstudents in groups currently underrepresented in STEM. GK-12 activities will be integrated intograduate programs by institutionalizing coursework that includes K-12 teaching and by institutional support for Pi Fellows. Outcomes assessment from Track 1 tells us that graduate students that participate in GK-12 better understand the issues facing K-12 education and will continue to be involved in K-12 after leaving the University. The addition of science and mathematics students to the engineering student base broadens our programs interdisciplinary focus, allows for more coverage of the grades 3-8 curricula, and enriches the graduate student experience. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation and research will be conducted through the USC Office of Program Evaluation to assess program outcomes.

The purpose of this REESE project is to investigate the impacts of inquiry-based science teaching experiences on the development of STEM graduate students as researchers. The investigators will measure the trajectory and magnitude of change in teaching and research skills over time using an array of relevant and contextualized data sources. They hypothesize that graduate students participating in both inquiry focused teaching experiences and advisor-directed research experiences will demonstrate greater growth in scientific reasoning and research design skills than those lacking either experience. Further, it is expected that research-active graduate students will benefit from teaching experiences in either undergraduate or K-12 settings.

The team anticipates that specific aspects of skill development may differ as a function of the teaching setting, but that either experience will provide a differential benefit relative to those students who participate exclusively in either research assistantships or teaching experiences. The researchers expect that this work will inform STEM graduate level training in both research and teaching.

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term objective of the proposed research is to develop technology for the creation of directional microphones for hearing aids that will have essentially inaudible thermal and electronic noise. The dramatic reduction in the noise of these directional microphones will be accomplished by the integration of three novel technologies: 1) The development of a robust, biologically-inspired microphone diaphragm having low thermal noise. Microphones having ideal, noiseless electronic amplification will still produce noise in their output due to the random impacts of thermally excited air molecules on the diaphragm. The ability of the surrounding gas to impart energy to the diaphragm is directly related to the amount of vibration damping, or passive energy dissipation in the system. In the proposed study, optimized low-damping, and hence low-noise, diaphragm designs will be developed to create a directional microphone diaphragm having much lower thermal noise along with increased sensitivity to sound than can be achieve by currently available technology. 2) Optical sensing to convert the diaphragm motion into an electronic signal. In the proposed effort, a revolutionary low-noise optical method will be developed for converting the motion of the diaphragm into an electronic signal. This optical scheme provides a highly sensitive, low-noise method of obtaining an electronic output from the bio-inspired microphone diaphragms that adds negligible electronic noise. A miniaturized packaging scheme will be developed to integrate the optoelectronic components with the microphone diaphragm. 3) Electronic feedback for thermal noise reduction. As mentioned above, a key contribution of this research will be the development of directional microphone diaphragms having a minimum of passive damping. While low damping leads to low noise, it also leads to highly resonant, ringing response, which is certainly undesirable in a microphone. In the proposed effort, an electronic feedback system will be developed to incorporate electronic damping to achieve the desirable response benefits of damping without the associated thermal noise. This approach to thermal noise reduction and active response control has been adopted in other low-noise sensing applications but it has previously not been feasible in microphone applications. The combination of the low damping, directional microphone diaphragm and the optical sensing scheme to be developed here makes it possible to take advantage of this powerful technology in the design of low-noise miniature microphones.