Watkins Summer Research - Participation Fellowships for Teachers of Science

Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Wichita State University Announces the Competition for Watkins Summer Research Participation Fellowships For Teachers of Science

Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Wichita State University, with financial support from the Watkins Foundation of Wichita, is continuing a program that enables teachers of science add depth and experience to their classroom preparation and agendas. We are offering a limited number of Watkins Summer Research Participation Fellowships for summer 2014, featuring eight weeks of research participation under the guidance of one or more WSU faculty members from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Geology, or Physics. Full-time teachers from secondary schools, community colleges and teaching-oriented four-year colleges are eligible for these awards. The teachers selected will work with the faculty member and his/her group in a current research project, and will receive necessary background and training to make substantive contributions to that project. The ultimate goal of the experience is to provide the teachers with knowledge and techniques that can use in their classrooms to better engage their students in science and convey to them how new discoveries are made. Awardees will receive a $4,000 stipend.

To qualify for a Watkins Summer Research Participation Fellowship, you must be a teacher of science and planning to continue in that role in the 2014-2015 academic year. Length of service as a teacher is not a deciding factor. You must be able to identify an eight week period of summer 2014 when you can devote full time to research participation. You must have a pre-arranged mentorship with a faculty member.

To see a list of available faculty mentors for summer 2014, please go to: www.wichita.edu/watkinssummerfellow

Applications for the Fellowship should include the following material:

  • A statement explaining how this program will improve your teaching efforts. You must identify the faculty member with whom you have a pre-arranged mentorship. If you are involved in a special science education program of any kind in your school or college, please describe it here.
  • A brief vita which includes your educational background, experience as a teacher, and any other employment experience that you may have had which was science related. Be sure to include teaching awards or recognition, and any institutes for the teaching of science you attended.
  • A letter of recommendation submitted by your supervisor, department chair or dean.

The deadline for application is Friday, April 4, 2014. Fellows will be selected by April 25, 2014, based on (1) established record or promise as a teacher, (2) perceived benefit to the teacher and school science program, and (3) ability to match the desired area of research with an available faculty researcher. We will evaluate the success of this program by asking the fellows to write a brief report in December 2014 describing how they incorporated their experiences into everyday classroom teaching or the impact it had on their appreciation of science.

Address all application materials to:

WATKINS FELLOWSHIPS

C/O DR. WILLIAM HENDRY

WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY

1845 FAIRMOUNT, CAMPUS BOX 26

WICHITA , KS 67260-0026

Notice of Nondiscrimination: Wichita State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. Any person having inquires concerning this may contact the Office of Affirmative Action, Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, Kansas 67260-0145