Creativity continues to be an important goal for 21st century learning. However, teachers often have difficulties fostering creativity in their classrooms. Current creativity research suggests that the act of making can enhance the teaching of creativity. Hands-on engineering design lessons are ideal contexts for studying this effect. Through…

Since its founding in 1863, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has occupied a special niche in the complex ecology of advice-giving in the United States. Established as a small, private organization with special responsibilities and obligations vis a vis the American people and government, the Academy has expanded considerably in the past…

A summer academy is held for grade 9-12 high school students at the University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, every year. The academy, dubbed the Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program (DEEP), is a diverse program that aims to attract domestic and international high school students to engineering and sciences (and possibly recruit them). DEEP…

The topic of alternative energy is not only relevant to a multitude of issues today, it is also an effective vehicle for developing instruction that applies across a variety of content disciplines and academic standards. Since many of the issues associated with alternative energy are open-ended, alternative energy also lends itself to…

This interpretive study of a Year Six classroom in North Queensland, Australia focuses on how two contrasting groups of children designed ill-defined engineering structures. The collaboration processes within the research team are explored. Classroom-related findings are also reported. (AIM)

Discussed is the establishment of a Center University of MassachusettsIndustry Research on Polymers (CUMIRP) at the University's Amherst campus. CUMIRP involves the university, a group of 13 corporations, and the National Science Foundation working together to forge closer research ties between unversities and industry. (Author/DS)

Describes the historical development and programs of engineering education at the University of Rwanda in cooperation with a Belgium university. Provides lists of courses for electromechanical and civil engineering programs. (YP)

Introduces a residential summer program, the New Experiences for Women in Science and Technology (Newton) Academy, which was developed to encourage high school girls' interest in the physical sciences and engineering. Reports the results of a follow-up evaluative study of the 1998 Newton Academy participants one year after participation. (Contains…

Describes the recent historical development, main features, and results of an engineering graduate program in Tunisia. A description of the civil service program for young university graduates and the hierarchy of university staff is provided. (YP)

Discussed is the graduate Reentry Program for Women at the University of Central Florida. Six components of the program are described: (1) mathematics review courses; (2) the program coordinator; (3) orientation meetings; (4) professional development day; (5) co-op jobs; and (6) social events that emphasize information. (YP)

Describes the development and courses of an annual nine-month professional training program in urban management. Evaluates the experience of the nine sessions organized for this program. (YP)

FEMME (Females in Engineering, Methods, Motivation, Experience) is a pre-college summer program for 25 bright and gifted ninth-grade females who like mathematics and science. This program, now in its fourth year, is described, providing information about program goals, operation, trips, student laboratory experiments, and topics discussed by guest…

Reviews the work, experiences, and views of Dennis L. and Donella Meadows, past-principal investigators of the "Limits to Growth" study. Focuses on current "Limits" work at Dartmouth's Resource Policy Center founded by D. L. Meadows with National Science Foundation support. Core activity at the Center is modeling for policy…

Lists objectives of a four-week summer program (Females in Engineering, Methods, Motivation, Experience) designed to attract ninth-grade females to science and engineering careers. Also discusses program content and strategies and results of student and parent evaluation of the 1983 program. (JN)

Describes the chemical engineering program at the University of California, Santa Barbara, including history of the department, faculty research interests and professional activities, graduate and undergraduate programs, and research in nuclear engineering. (SK)