Grant Abstracts 2009   California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Raul Cano San Luis Obispo, CA $249,504 2009 The project will develop an integrated, multidisciplinary, undergraduate curriculum in molecular forensics to promote an undergraduate research community and prepare students for careers and graduate study. Initially focused on producing a working database of E. coli sequences, this curriculum will be delivered to over 1,000 students each year in lab-based courses in the Colleges of Science and Mathematics, Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, and Engineering. Combining analytical procedures from microbiology, molecular biology and bioinformatics, the program will engage undergraduates in applied, cutting-edge research with broad potential in the areas of food and water safety. The requested pyrosequencing equipment, capable of rapid, sequence-based analysis of microbes, is key to the project aims: integrating explicit pedagogic, research and product development goals into the curriculum from introductory to advanced courses and senior capstone projects. The equipment fosters an experimental mindset and provides a platform for student involvement in developing a microbial forensics database to sub-type strains from a variety of sources. The proposed instrumentation will transform the way students experience the application of technology in scientific discovery and will contribute to the development of other applied research directions across campus.   Lewis & Clark College Julio de Paula Portland, OR $250,000 2009 As it seeks to shape the future of its programs in the mathematical and natural sciences, Lewis & Clark College will take advantage of the inherent flexibility of the liberal arts setting to make significant changes in its science curriculum and its research environment. Within the next three years, Lewis & Clark will develop the academic discipline of nanoscience through enhanced curriculum, the hire of postdoctoral researchers/teachers, acquisition of a new scanning electron microscope and support of new and established faculty research projects in this area. Lewis & Clark’s proposed nanoscience program development is unique among regional liberal arts institutions as the aim of program is to advance undergraduate liberal arts education in which students have access to hands-on research opportunities in nanoscience at a level far beyond average offerings. Lewis & Clark will benefit from this project for decades after the proposed grant period expires, as this project lays the foundation for faculty research programs sure to succeed, courses that will allow students to understand the technology and science of the future, and access to cutting-edge equipment by generations of students.   Mount St. Mary's College Pam Haldeman Los Angeles, CA $250,000 2009 Mount St. Mary's College seeks to increase the use of film as a campus-wide pedagogical tool while expanding its program in film and social justice, a unique undergraduate major that uses the power of filmmaking to promote active learning across academic disciplines, engages students in the local community and, ultimately, develops strong-voiced leaders who will contribute to positive social change. The program has demonstrated its ability to give students the skills both to make powerful films that address important social justice issues and to gain entry into the entertainment industry – where, as women from diverse ethnic backgrounds, they are vastly underrepresented. With a fully developed curriculum, established internship relationships and newly constructed production and editing studios, the film and social justice program is poised to expand. The requested funds will primarily support: (a) expansion of two part-time faculty positions to full-time over the three-year grant period; (b) reassigned time for the program director; and (c) acquisition of film production equipment. The goals are to build enrollment in the program, further integrate the program into other departments, develop a strong online presence, and expand the program’s impact beyond the College through partnerships with high schools and community-based organizations and, ultimately, to increase diversity in the film industry.   University of Redlands, California Diana Sinton Redlands, CA $250,000 2009 LEarNing Spatially (LENS) is a campus-wide initiative promoting spatial literacy as a foundational component within an undergraduate liberal arts curriculum. LENS harnesses the integrative power of geography with technologies to help faculty and students visualize knowledge, solve problems and understand relationships through a spatial lens. We create opportunities for faculty and students from diverse liberal arts disciplines to use maps, mapping and spatial perspectives in order to develop new understanding and insights for their teaching and research. Our approach targets faculty development through fellowships and workshops, student opportunities through internships and collaborative research, and enhancements to existing technical support and infrastructure. We emphasize graphicacy skills among students, adding “critical viewing” expertise to the other competencies in writing, reading, speaking and thinking that are cultivated during higher education. LENS moves beyond teaching simply a tool or suite of technologies; it represents a global first for how 21st century geospatial technologies can be linked to the greater pedagogic objectives of critical thinking and problem-based learning.   Whittier College Charlotte Borst Whittier, CA $250,000 2009 Whittier College seeks support for the establishment of two Centers: for Science, Health and Policy; and for Interdisciplinary Collaborations with the Arts. These Centers will maximize student learning by advancing the College’s deep commitment to interdisciplinary curricula, collaborative teaching, undergraduate research and internships, and the integration of student learning experiences within local, national and international communities. A centerpiece of the project will be the Keck Undergraduate Fellows Program which will give financial and mentoring support to 21 of the College’s best students, providing funds for internships and research assistantships in the summer following their junior year and for continuing scholarly activity during their senior year. Requested funds also will support the development of eight new interdisciplinary courses tied to the two Centers; travel to external communities; visits from field leaders to campus; interdisciplinary symposiums; and course release time for the Centers’ faculty Directors as they lead faculty in the execution of new Center activities. The primary goal, building upon Whittier’s curricular strengths, is to establish the Centers as interdisciplinary and community-oriented focal points of intellectual activity and high student achievement on campus.