|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Nineteen North Carolina high school juniors and seniors attended the Student Science Enrichment Program hosted by the Dept. of Wood and Paper Science at NC State University on July 15-19, 2001. The Burroughs Wellcome Fund sponsored this program and will do so for the next two years. This four-day course introduced students to papermaking and paper recycling as well as to other science-related majors and careers. Students also learned the chemical components of wood, paper properties, and the environmental issues regarding papermaking and paper recycling. Over half of the learning experience was in a laboratory setting. Labs included pulping, papermaking, and recycling. After learning the basic principles in the classroom, these students became active researchers by participating in exploratory research projects involved in the utilization of waste agricultural material and wastepaper. A professor mentored each research group of four to five students. The groups created and presented PowerPoint® presentations of their projects.
The students stayed in Bragaw Residence Hall on NC State's campus and enjoyed activities at night with their counselors and Paper Science faculty and staff members. Some nightly activities included enjoying a cook-out/volleyball, playing Putt-Putt, riding Go-Karts, eating dinner in Raleigh, and going to NC State's Carmichael Gym. The students also had a chance to tour NC State's campus and to visit the Bookstore. These experiences built friendships and camaraderie among the students.
At the end of the course, each student was given a complete papermaking and paper recycling kit. One requirement of this program is for program participants to perform a post-course activities based on concepts learned during the course. Some acceptable activities were to plan a papermaking and paper recycling demonstration for a middle school class or to perform a high school science project based on papermaking and paper recycling.
We greatly enjoyed the students at the first Student Science Enrichment Program and look forward to the next two summers.
Lesley Grieco and Dr. Richard A. Venditti, 7/27/01
Last Modified: