This award provides funding for a three year standard award to support a Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering and Computer Science Site program at the Colorado State University (CSU) entitled, "NSF Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Science and Technology (EUV ERC): Research Experience for Teachers in Engineering and Computer Science Site Program", under the direction of Dr. Jorge J. Rocca. The focus of this RET Site program, which will be located at CSU, the University of Colorado, Boulder (CU), and the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) is to immerse teachers in research and engineering applications of Extreme Ultraviolet light (EUV), science and technology that includes; laser development and design, ultra-high resolution microscopy, metrology, lithography for the manufacture fabrication of the next generation of computer chips, as well as element- and chemically-specific materials fabrication for new nano-scale devices. Through participation in scientific and engineering research, teachers will gain new knowledge and insights into how scientific and engineering core concepts are applied to the design and creation of engineered systems. This new content knowledge will enable them modify and build new classroom curriculum. Few places in the world offer this unique research focus area in the EUV sciences. The collaborative ERC research model offers a unique opportunity for teachers to truly experience the benefits of collaboration and networking for sustainability. In this multi-institution research Center approach teachers gain experience in collaborative learning, research, and experimentation involving more people, resources, and research techniques than they would if they were contained at a single research site.

The EUV Center is one of the few academic and research centers that exist in the world that can support the training of a new generation of STEM teachers (pre-service and high school) proficient in EUV science core concepts. This RET Site program builds on the strength of the existing infrastructure of the Center to offer world-class opportunities for teachers to gain research experience that will prepare them to teach and translate new learned content into the classroom. The RET site will improve STEM teaching and learning for a total of 30 teachers (10 per year for 3 years). The experiences will be reinforced and sustained by continued development and reflection during the academic year, with connections to all three Center sites. Each teacher participant will impact over 125 students in the school year following the RET, which means that each year approximately 1125 students will experience hands-on learning of optics, lasers, and EUV science and technology.

Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2014-02-01
Budget End
2019-09-30
Support Year
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$328,681
Indirect Cost
Name
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Fort Collins
State
CO
Country
United States
Zip Code
80523