NSF Org:	DUE Division Of Undergraduate Education
Recipient:	WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date:	April 8, 1996
Latest Amendment Date:	April 8, 1996
Award Number:	9650124
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	David W. Mogk DUE  Division Of Undergraduate Education EDU  Directorate for STEM Education
Start Date:	April 15, 1996
End Date:	March 31, 1998 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$12,964.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$12,964.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 1996 = $12,964.00
History of Investigator:	Brian Bingham (Principal Investigator) Brian.Bingham@wwu.edu Stephen Sulkin (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	Western Washington University 516 HIGH ST BELLINGHAM WA  US  98225-5996 (360)650-2884
Sponsor Congressional District:	02
Primary Place of Performance:	Western Washington University 516 HIGH ST BELLINGHAM WA  US  98225-5996
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	02
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	U3ZFA57417D4
Parent UEI:	U3ZFA57417D4
NSF Program(s):	UNDERGRAD INSTRM & LAB IMPROVE
Primary Program Source:	app-0496
Program Reference Code(s):	9178, 9267, SMET
Program Element Code(s):	740000
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.076

ABSTRACT

Through the Shannon Point Marine Center and its marine science curriculum, science majors who may pursue graduate education, community college students who are assessing their interest in pursuing marine science as a major, and advanced undergraduates participating in Shannon Point Marine Center National Undergraduate Marine Education Center (NUMEC) programs are served. NUMEC provides students from around the United States access to marine science studies at a marine center within the context of their ongoing undergraduate programs at their home institutions. Three programs operate within NUMEC: the Minorities in Marine Science Undergraduate Program, the Research Experience for Undergraduates Site program, and the Fall Quarter-in-Residence. All of the programs provide undergraduates with unique opportunities to become educated in the most recent concepts in marine science, to be trained in state-of-the art techniques used in marine research, and to engage in supervised, independent research. With the spectroradiometer, students can use advanced technology to quantitatively address ecologically relevant questions ranging from UV-B effects on invertebrate larvae to influences of light quality on microbial community structure. The instrument has enormous value in teaching basic oceanographic principles previously discussed only in lectures. It is being applied in the curricula of Oceanography, Algae, Marine Ecology, Marine Invertebrate Biology, and Current Trends in Marine Science courses. The benefits of this tool, however, extend far beyond formal coursework. Given the current concern for global issues, students are increasingly interested in problems such as ozone depletion and global warming. This equipment places an exciting, computer-based research tool in the hands of undergraduates who are using it to do meaningful, imaginative research.

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