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The EMSI conducts a variety of programs targeted to provide broad, interdisciplinary educational experiences for students, and to attract traditionally underrepresented groups to environmental molecular science. Some of our projects include:
The Research Experience for Undergraduates- REU
This is an eight-week summer program where undergraduate students from universities across the United States are invited to the Notre Dame to conduct research in our facilities, under the supervision of Notre Dame faculty. Application for 2007 will be open by October 2006. The EMSI REU students participate in research in geomicrobiology, hydrology, environmental mineralogy, and geochemistry. The REU program concludes with a research forum where each student give a 15 minute presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session. See pictures of REU-06.
Research Experience for school students- RES
EMSI conducts outreach on the school level by recruiting area school science students to do research in our facilities. The school students conduct research in the following areas:
Geomicrobiology
Environmental mineralogy pertaining to actinide transport
Microbial diversity in groundwater systems
Biotoxicity to bacteria of adsorbed metal ions
Metal interactions with natural organic matter and mineral surfaces
Effects of natural organic matter and bacteria on the formation of mineral nano-particles
PGE in road dirt
Studies of groundwater in Benin, West Africa
Potential interferences of natural organic matter
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The program also includes informational sessions for school teachers in order to further recruit younger students, in addition to educating the teachers about environmental molecular science. Please click here to submit your online application. The students present their work at the Indiana Regional Science Fair.
 Leon Downing (left; graduate student) assisting
Adam Grandison-RES-2005 (Adams High school)
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 Melissa Baranay -RES-2006 (Marion High school)
Adam Grandison (right) is the winner of the second prize at the Indiana Academy of Science Talent Search-05. Their selections were based on a research paper reflecting on Hydrogen-Based, Hollow Fiber Membrane biofilm Reactors for Reduction of Bromate. |
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Research Experience for Teachers - RET |
There is an opportunity for area school teachers to do research in our EMSI facility. EMSI runs an eight-week RET program in the summer. Each teacher involved in the RET program will receive a $5000 stipend (assuming completion of all facets of the RET program). Participants receive 1-3 credits at the third year graduate-level. Three teachers have participated in 2005 & 2006. Online application form is available here. Next application deadline is April 1, 2007. |
A poster by Ian Lightcap (RET-06) of Clay High School got honorable mention and he won a ND T-shirt at the Tri-University Symposium
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Middle School Outreach
Sensing our world 06
(1:00-3:00 pm. Wednesday, June 28, 2006)
It was a week-long all-day summer camp about physical science, materials, physics and sensors for students entering 7th or 8th grade. It has been organized by Karen Morris of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Suzanne Coshow of JINA (Joint Institute of Nuclear Astrophysics). The students (20) are selected
from area schools. We contributed with our abilities in macroscopic and microscopic techniques. The participants spent whole afternoon in different labs in the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Science. Following individuals volunteered in the demonstrations.
William Kinman, Graduate student
Leon Downing, Graduate student
Jennifer Forsythe, Research technician
Jennifer Szymanowski, Research technician
Dennis Birdsell, Lab manager, CEST
Click here if you like to participate next year.
Click here for more pictures. |
Will Kinman took the students a tour in the department Geology Display
Leon Downing explaining the participants about wastwater treatment
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EMSI arranged a discussion to help middle school students better understand their science fair projects. EMSI graduate students attended a discussion session at the Montessori Academy on February 7, 2006. Students from 7th and 8th grades attended and discussed about their science fair projects. EMSI also ran some water test for the middle school students. |
Brenda Read answers questions from students.
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 Mr. Dennis Birdsell, Lab Manager, CEST, gives a tour of the facility. Click here to see more pictures |
On November 29, 2005, EMSI hosted the Montessori Academy for a facility tour of the EMSI and the CEST. Technicians, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers from EMSI and CEST gave facility tour. Click here to view the pictures. |
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On February 24, 2005, EMSI organized a group of volunteers to judge the LaSalle Intermediate Academy Science Fair. Five of the volunteers (see the picture) along with Education and Outreach Administrator judged more than 50 science projects from Grade 7 and 8. |
(left to right Mr. Wei He, Dr. Masato Ueshima, Ms. Leilani Arthurs, Mr. Paul Giesting, Dr. Roger Nassar) |
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On November 25, 2003, EMSI hosted the Montessori Academy for a lecture and facility tour of the Institute and the Center for Environmental Science and Technology. Faculty members taught 40 junior high students about the Institute's scientific mission, and how the research relates to the environment. Click here for photos of the day. Students used ideas from the lecture by Dr. Fein and Dr. Maurice for science fair projects. Click here to see photos from their school science fair. |
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Minority Recruitment
EMSI attended 7th annual HBCU-UP conference at Baltimore on February 9-12, 2006. EMSI received a good exposure at the conference. Our Education and Outreach Administrator met undergraduate students, undergraduate student advisors and faculty members from HBCU member institutions.
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Education Outreach Administrator Dr. Valli Sarveswaran explains about REU program to a potential student.
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EMSI partners with the National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minority Students in Science and Engineering (GEM) to recruit minority students to the Institute. GEM, a nonprofit organization headquartered at the University of Notre Dame, was established in 1976 to address the problem of minority underrepresentation in the fields of science and engineering.
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