| NSF Org: |
EES Div. of Equity for Excellence in STEM |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | May 10, 2017 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | May 10, 2017 |
| Award Number: | 1719265 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Michelle Claville
EES Div. of Equity for Excellence in STEM EDU Directorate for STEM Education |
| Start Date: | June 1, 2017 |
| End Date: | December 31, 2020 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $297,330.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $297,330.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
#2 JOHN BREWERS BAY CHARLOTTE AMALIE VI US 00802-6004 (340)693-1202 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
#2 Brewers Bay rd. St. Thomas VI IT 00802 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | Hist Black Colleges and Univ |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.076 |
ABSTRACT
The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) through Targeted Infusion Projects supports the development, implementation, and study of evidence-based innovative models and approaches for improving the preparation and success of HBCU undergraduate students so that they may pursue science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) graduate programs and/or careers. The project at the University of the Virgin Islands seeks to develop the newly approved undergraduate program in Physics and Astronomy at the St. Thomas and Sr. Croix campuses. The project is informed by an on-going evaluation with a strong plan for formative and summative evaluation.
This project will implement and study evidenced-based strategies in the development of a physics and astronomy major. The project goals are to: implement active learning practices in classrooms, with particular attention to the student population, which encompasses a large underrepresented community from both the territory and the broader Caribbean; create complementary learning opportunities using visual and interactive tools; and provide hands-on, student-centered learning experiences, including a research component that exposes students to diversified STEM careers. A strong outreach component to K-12 students and teachers is included, as is the development of courses and activities for undergraduate students not majoring in a STEM field.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
Our project, "HBCU-UP Targeted Infusion Project: From the Sea to the Stars: Educational Advancement at UVI via Observations and Astronomy Research Experience" was designed to increase the recruitment, retention and success rate of students enrolled in the newly created Bachelor of Science in Physics with concentration in Astronomy. We achieved these goals through the acquisition of state of the art equipment and the development of upper level course curricula that introduced students to up to date astronomy content and astronomical instrumentation usage.
We acquired two portable planetaria (one for each campus) and several commercial optical telescopes (COT) to augment the educational offer with hands-on activities, active learning pedagogical strategies, and introduce classical astronomy concepts in a new and engaging modality (e.g. secular motion of planets and galaxies).
Students in the B.S. program have gained skills that go beyond the typical "academic knowledge and expertise": for example, during the development of the new Junior/Senior seminars and the astronomy laboratories, students are capable to set up telescopes for astronomical observations, plan and execute scientific data acquisition and analysis, and apply research-based inferences. These experiences make students highly competent on the subjects, but also very competitive in summer internships opportunities, graduate school applications, and national scholarships.
Students have presented research work at national and international conferences and have demonstrated confidence in the class and research knowledge through poster and oral presentations.
Physics majors from the aforementioned courses are also involved in recruitment and outreach activities across the territory (St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John islands), being not just role-models for younger peers (P-12 system), but also becoming a direct link and resource for the science teachers interested in bringing physics and astronomy content in their classrooms.
During the timespan of the grant, the PI, co-PIs, and the students have run several outreach events, including "Astronomy days" where more than 2800 visitors have experience planetarium-focus activities or the 2017 solar eclipse. UVI students have actively participated, doing presentations created as part of their courses (Junior or Senior seminars) and leading the public to sky observations using the knowledge acquired during the Astronomy laboratories.
Similar initiatives were conducted at the Etelman Observatory in St. Thomas, the existing facility utilized by UVI physics students during their research or coursework.
The acquisition of a 3D printer enabled students in the Astronomy Lab to contribute in the early phases of the UVI Gamma-Ray Experiment for Astrophysical Transients (UVI-GREAT) small satellite. During the early stages of the COVID19 pandemic, students and UVI faculty utilize their skills to produce several protective masks donated to the territory hospitals, demonstrating the strong links between their academic and community-based interests.
As a result of the multi-facet initiatives stemming from the grant the number of students enrolled in the B.S. in Physics have gone from 7 to 24 and the number of graduates from 3 to 8.
Graduates have now pursued a plethora of post-Bachelor careers: from graduate studies in different disciplines (bio-informatics, health science, and engineer) to the private sectors both on and off-islands.
Final component of the grant was the introduction and training of local K-12 science teachers in the usage of some of the equipment, specifically the planetarium, which offered the usage of the "Layered Earth" software. This material focuses on element of geology and Earth science concepts and it is fully aligned with the National Science Standards. The PI, co-Is, and students have given two presentations on each islands and lead further training. Despite the impact of COVID19 pandemic, which curtailed this work in the last year of the grant, teachers have demonstrated the benefit of this exposure, introducing science and astronomy concepts in some of their classrooms.
This project has profoundly changed the perception of Physics and Astronomy within the community at large and the education pipeline. The strong engagement of our UVI Physics students in outreach activities, which have become integral part of the Physics program, guarantee a sustainable path for increasing number of enrolled students in the B.S. in Physics and towards different post-graduation paths.
The continue teacher training with the planetaria and the telescopes is also fully integrated within the multi-disciplinary activities of the Virgin Islands Institute for STEM Education Research and Practice (VI-ISERP).
All our results have been documented in several presentations, reports, academic material and will be part of a future publication, emphasizing the dramatic increase in number of bachelor of science in Physics awarded compared to the National average, especially when considering other Historically Black College and Universities or similar size higher education institutions
Last Modified: 04/30/2021
Modified by: Antonino Cucchiara
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