PHYSICS EDUCATION NEWS (PEN) June 1994, No. 2 An electronic newsletter of the AIP Educatio
PHYSICS EDUCATION NEWS (PEN)
June 1994, No. 2
An electronic newsletter of the AIP Education Division
NEW GRANTS ENCOURAGE TEACHING AND RESEARCH
A new awards program conceived to help third-year faculty at Ph.D
granting institutions fulfill their commitments to both teaching
and research has been instituted by the Research Corporation, a
nonprofit foundation based in Tucson, Arizona. The Cottrell
Scholars program, named after the Corporation's founder, Frederick
Gardner Cottrell, awards $50,000 each to qualified applicants.
The money must be used to fund research projects that involve
undergraduate students in scientific investigation. 17 faculty
members in physics, astronomy, and chemistry were awarded grants
this year. Information and application forms for next year's
awards are now available. Applicants must be qualified faculty
members in physics, astronomy, or chemistry who accepted tenure-
track positions in 1992. The application deadline is September 1,
1994.
(For more information, contact: Research Corporation, 101 N.
Wilmot Rd., Suite 250, Tucson, Ariz. 85711-3332; telephone: 602-
571-1111; fax: 602-571-1119; E-mail: research@ccit.ariz.edu)
CARTOON TO TAKE STUDENTS ON SCIENCE FIELD TRIPS
"The Magic School Bus," a fully animated children's educational
series, will debut this September on the Public Broadcasting
Service (PBS). Based on the Scholastic book series by the same
name, the television program features a teacher named Ms. Frizzle,
who takes her students on a magically powered bus for scientific
field trips into the human body, around the solar system, or back
to the time of dinosaurs. "Children's interest in science starts
to erode in the elementary grades," project organizers say. "The
Magic School Bus" project is designed to keep children's curiosity
alive. The voice of Ms. Frizzle will be provided by the
entertainer Lily Tomlin. Check local listings for times.
CAREERS IN SCIENCE EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTED IN NSTA BOOKLETS
What does it take to be a science teacher? How can you tell if
teaching science is the right career for you? These and other
important questions are answered in "You Can Teach Science," a new
booklet from the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). The
28-page publication includes a description of a typical day for a
science teacher, a section on the ups and downs of teaching,
contacts for science/education organizations, and more. The
booklet comes in two versions, one for elementary students and
young adults, and one for upper-level students and adults.
(For a free copy, contact: Amy Kosko, Office of Public
Information, NSTA, 1840 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201;
telephone: 703-312-9248; a limited number of multiple copies are
available upon request)
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