An Assessment of the National Science Foundation's Science and Technology Centers Program (1996) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 58-87
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From page 58... ...
, an NSFselected visiting committee reviews the operation of a center. The visiting committee includes about 5-10 persons who have expertise in the subject of its center' s research.
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F The following report on the site visit, which generally confirmed and reinforced this enthusiastic reaction to the proposal, includes some minor criticism that do not affect the overall highly positive response of the site visitors. We strongly recommend that the renewal proposal be approved.
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Yet both last year and this, with regard to workshops, members of the site visit team heard positive anecdotes from attendees, but also anecdotes on the lack of scientific
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and what we have heard and seen during our site visit allow us to confidently predict that the science and technological developments coming from this group over the next few years will have a profound impact on our understanding. N It is the sense of the site review team that [the center]
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T The generation of new ideas through discussions and interactions between the multidisciplinary participants at [the center] was strongly evident to the site visit team.
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One of the criteria for Center support is that the proposed research not be suited to conventional investigator support. The thrust group structure of the Center brings together in a unifying theme excellent academic and industrial scientists to carry out timely interdisciplinary research projects in a manner that no single research group could readily achieve.
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. This activity is excellent and it plays a crucial role in the education of K-12 teachers and, indirectly through the teachers, a very large number of primary and secondary school students.
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It is desirable that the Center establish links with these industries. Progress in this direction appears imminent, because ties are being established with a number of organizations related to engineering applications which were described during the site visit.
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has demonstrated success and continued expansion of the Industrial Outreach Program during the last year. The Industrial Affiliates Program has demonstrated a conscious effort to disseminate research results through technical meetings, annual reports, research project summaries, technology transfer days, product/ process development fact sheets, collaborative research projects, and student and faculty exchanges.
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The outreach programs of [the center] to grades K-12 and to the community are outstanding.
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The summer programs are innovative mechanism for reaching high school students. Although Center members are participating in a number of programs, it is still unclear what formal support they are receiving from the center and whether there are centerwide goals for these activities.
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Students showed enthusiasm for the cross-disciplinary opportunities that the Center provides. The Center has been energetic in its outreach programs.
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The unanimous opinion of the Site Visit Review Team was that the Center's efforts in the area of education and outreach have been outstanding. Particularly impressive is the success of the High School Teacher's Program.
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It is suggested that thought be given to including some mechanism for evaluation of the outreach program. J We wish to emphasize that we agree with the previous site visit teams that [the center]
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The particularly noteworthy activities have included a summer enrichment program for middle and high school teachers, workshops for women and minority students and an instructional van that provides important hands on laboratory experience for students at all levels of age and experience. In the center itself, some of the graduate students are particularly attracted to the interactions with the industry [in this field]
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, the site visit team concludes that [the center] , due to the critical mass of scientists and facilities made possible by STC-style support, is carving a truly unique international niche into the relatively unexplored territory of [scientific]
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has obviously taken the recommendations of the previous site review committee to heart, in that they have made a very conscious and consclentious effort to expand and improve their knowledge transfer with the research sector. [The center]
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The committee was tremendously impressed with the involvement and commitment of several people in the wide array of [center] -related educational programs, including local speaking engagements, mentoring, internships, and laboratory apprenticeships.
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The interaction of the STC with the surrounding community goes beyond the missions of the individual scientists doing basic research and development. The numerous educational programs extend into virtually every part of society and place special emphasis on school levels K- 12.
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. In summary on the basis of various indicators available to assess quality and effectiveness of similar programs, the site visit team concluded that the outreach and education program had exceeded expectations and has a high potential for continued major accomplishments.
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has influenced the curricula for K 12 through training programs for secondary school teachers and students. The undergraduate educational program has developed strong linkages with the faculty and students from [several]
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The quality of the individual research plans and the uniqueness of this STC's research contributions are well recognized. It is the opinion of the site-visit team that the STC has created a unique research theme and environment within communities.
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community. As has been reflected consistently in previous site visit reports, the educational programs, particularly on the K-12 levels, show early signs of being highly effective.
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Some of the ongoing projects have counterparts in other institutions. However, the uniqueness of the research contributions of the Center derives from the consistent synergy demonstrated between the academic and industrial collaborators at the individual project, thrust group, and overall Center levels.
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