Research Experience for Teachers at Notre Dame (RET@ND)
The
Research Experience for Teachers at Notre Dame (RET@ND)
is a program of summer research projects for high school
teachers of the Michiana region. The projects will be
directed by faculty members from several academic departments
in the Colleges of Engineering and Science at Notre
Dame. Participating teachers will be encouraged to create
new curricular modules for use in their classrooms.
Funding for the RET 4 week mathematics workshop is tentative. You may apply to the program, and will be notified as to the funding status as soon as possible.
Engineering a More Sustainable Energy Future
presented by
Center for Sustainable Energy at Notre Dame (cSEND)
High school and middle school teachers with strong STEM backgrounds are invited to participate in the RET (Research Experience for Teachers) program with cSEND (Center for Sustainable Energy at Notre Dame). Teachers will spend the summer working with research faculty in cSEND, learning research techniques and broadening their scope of knowledge.
Program Overview
During the eight week program, teachers will work directly with faculty mentors on current energy research and develop practical curriculum for use in the classroom and to be shared digitally with other teaching professionals. In addition to working in teams within the cohort, an on-site curriculum specialist will support the development of teaching resources.
The RET program is funded by the National Science Foundation. Research will occur in the University of Notre Dame state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. Teachers with be matched with research mentors based upon their project interests.
Possible research topics include:
- CO2 separation and utilization
- Artificial photosynthesis/solar to fuels
- Safer nuclear waste disposal
- Biofuels production
- Biological fuel cell technologies
- Reduction of energy use in manufacturing processes
- Improved grid technologies
Additional topics are available through the Physics RET program.
Participant Benefits
- Learn new skills through a mentored research experience in an energy-related area of interest
- Develop new curriculum materials for classroom use with guidance, individually and through work groups
- Bound copies of and electronic access to all curricular materials generated by participants in this RET
- Support from RET administrators and faculty mentors following the summer experience
- Salary stipend, parking, and human resource considerations
- Professional Growth Plan Credits for license renewal
- Travel and housing for ACE teachers
Participant Eligibility
Teachers from the following school corporations are encouraged to apply:
- Elkhart
- Mishawaka
- Penn-Harris-Madison
- South Bend
- Teachers who have graduated from the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) program.
Former RET participants and members of under-represented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
High school teacher applicants should have a background and interest in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM).
Middle school teacher applicants with strong STEM backgrounds will also be considered.
To Apply
- Interested teachers must apply online at the RET@ND website
- Applications will be accepted January 15-March 15, 2012
- Applicants will be notified by April 15, 2012
Providing readily-available, inexpensive, and non-polluting energy is arguably humankind’s
greatest challenge for the 21st Century. The Center for Sustainable Energy at Notre Dame (cSEND) is addressing this challenge with state-of-the-art research and education programs in safer nuclear waste storage; clean fossil fuel utilization; CO2 separation, storage, sequestration and use; energy efficiency; solar and wind energies; biofuels; and the social, political, and ethical aspects of energy policy and use.
For More Information, please contact:
Dr. Rebecca Hicks
cSEND Research & Education Program Director
(574) 631-2417
rhicks2@nd.edu
energy.nd.edu
