Over the past several decades, the United States has lagged behind other nations in scientific and technological research. HBCUs are aggressively working to fill the increasing demand for graduates in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Between 1983 and 2003, the number of white students receiving doctorates in engineering, for example increased only 30 percent whereas the number of black graduates receiving doctoral degrees increased by an astonishing 72%. Two HBCUs, North Carolina A & T and Morgan State were ranked among the top seven engineering programs granting degrees to African Americans. The programs outlined here directly address the goal of NAFEO to increase faculty, students, and professionals in these areas.
Through a new NAFEO program, the Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI) CyberInfrastructure Institute, NAFEO, the Hispanic Alliance of Colleges and Universities (HACU), the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), and a community of researchers, faculty, and students are participating collaboratively to provide training and support in developing and implementing tools and techniques that support the distributed research and education process including, but not limited to: usage of computational grids for remote processing, data mining and management, java-based web service technology, research collaboration using web portals, and distance learning using video teleconferencing.
The Techno-Scholars Program is a faith-and community-based pilot program at Hampton University and Norfolk State University designed to prepare black male youth between the ages of 12 and 14 for college and/or career success and decrease the likelihood of their entering the juvenile/criminal justice system and/or prison. Today, when children in inner city schools are more likely to be African Americans but less likely to be connected to the internet, the NAFEO Techno Scholars Project has paired two universities with middle and high school youth in Virginia. This technology-focused program has engaged youth in a combination of experiences designed to introduce them to and improve their technological skills, as well as enhance their academic and social skills. The program provides laptop computers to the participants to allow them to access online content, including development plans, exercises, surveys, and tutorial sessions via a web portal. This program focuses on two strategic goals: (1) capacity building, with a focus on student leadership development; and (2) advocacy, with a focus on a public policy issues consistent with the mission and priorities of NAFEO.
The objective of the HBCU/Minority Institution Environmental Technology Consortium (HBCU/MI ETC) is to combine the efforts of its member institutions to expand the nation's research, education and technology transfer and exchange capabilities in both the public and private sectors in management of radioactive, hazardous and solid wastes, including related energy, health, space, and defense technologies. The Consortium is a national model of collaboration among the participating academic institutions, federal and state agencies, federal facilities and national laboratories, industry, major universities, and two-and four-year colleges.
The HBCU/MI ETC was established in 1990 through a Memorandum of Understanding among 17 consortium members. The consortium objective is to combine the efforts of its member institutions to expand the nation's research, education, and technology transfer and exchange capabilities in the management of radioactive, hazardous, and solid wastes, including related energy, health, space and defense technology. The twelve HBCUs/PBIs involved are: Alabama A&M, Clark Atlanta, Florida A&M, Hampton, Howard, Jackson State, North Carolina A&T, Prairie View, Southern, Texas Southern, Tuskegee, and Xavier Universities.
NAFEO provides support to the consortium through the HBCU/MI Technical Advisory Board. It identifies students for internships with consortium schools as well as with Federal agencies and industry; develops technology transfer for consortium schools using NAFEO's website; staffs the Technical Advisory Board meetings; and provides annual reports and marketing materials publicizing the consortium.
In July, NAFEO will distribute a brochure describing the efforts of the consortium; a booklet detailing the projects of each school will be distributed this Fall.
At the most recent meeting of the Consortium, research was presented on the following topics : "Non-contact Method of Optical Trapping and Manipulation of Micro-Particles and Micro-Organisms Assisted by Electrical Pulses and Running Interference Pattern" (Alabama A&M University); "Control and Manipulation of Particle Contaminants" (Alabama A&M University); "Development of Fluorescent Probes for Environmental Sensing and Detection of Heavy Metals" (Clark Atlanta University); "Spatial Dependence of the Atmospheric Concentration of Particulate Matter" (Florida A&M University); Biomarkers of Lead-Induced Toxicity in Channel Catfish and Human Liver Carcinoma (HepG2) Cells"(Jackson State University); "Modified Zirconia Nanoparticles for VOC Control" (Tuskegee University); "Soft Computing Approaches for Risk & Remediation Applications" (Texas A&M University- Kingsville); "Antibodies and Field-Portable Immunoassays to Measure Uranium and Other Heavy Metals" (Xavier University); "Evaluation of a Novel Reactive Barrier System for Immobilizing Radionuclides and Metals" (NAU – Tuskegee Team); "Evaluating Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (A&M); Fungi and Phosphate Mediating Bacteria in Arsenic Tolerant Plants" (Tuskegee University); and "Real Time Measurement, Manipulation, and Modeling of Airborne Particles Generated from Decontamination Activities" (AAMU and Florida International University).
NAFEO, as part of The Alliance for Equity in Higher Education, which also includes the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), received funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish a pilot program for a CyberInfrastructure (CI) Institute that will serve the MSI community.
As part of its several objectives, NAFEO aims to improve student and faculty leadership in the area of technology. Through the MSI/CI institute, a community of researchers, faculty and students will participate collaboratively to provide training and support in developing and implementing tools and techniques that support the distributed research and education process including, but not limited to:
The Institute also expects to offer online and classroom-based instruction on some of the above topics to both students and faculty. In June 2006 participants attended a five-day residential program designed to provide the skills and training necessary to continue institute participation and related research after the participants return to their home institutions. Participants are required to complete a research project, a computer science development project, or an educational project using the information and research techniques acquired at the residential program. Each participant is paired with an appropriate mentor/research collaborator will assist, participants in designing and implementing their project.
The Model Institutions of Excellence (MIE) program was created by the National Science Foundation and NASA to upgrade the quality of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education for underrepresented populations. Strategies that result from experience preparing students of color for careers in the STEM fields is disseminated through a major national campaign led by the Alliance for Equity in Higher Education Three NAFEO member colleges and universities, Bowie State University (MD), Spelman College (GA) and Xavier University (LA), have focused on recruitment, retention, and academic enrichment. Among the goals of the program are to ensure student access, success and equal opportunity; enhance teacher preparation, faculty development, and leadership; and strengthening institutional capacity. In 2005, NAFEO, AIHEC, and HACU partnered with the Alliance to hold a Joint Forum, "The Value and Power of Investing in STEM”. Participants from MIE colleges and universities shared their successes and failures in developing STEM programs for minority students. Three NAFEO member institutions are involved in this program. Their accomplishments are described below:
The Alliance disseminated a comprehensive report about the models and products of all of the MIE institutions.
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