The Journal of Chemical Education is attempting to identify persons using Problem-Based Learning (PBL) during that part of a chemistry course typically reserved for the lecture context. Given sufficient interest and available examples, there will be a Journal column devoted to this topic. Suitable examples for our purposes can be teacher guided or student directed research projects, case studies, or design projects that are used to drive learning. Outcomes of such assignments might be individual or group papers, debates, or role-playing exercises. The PBL experiences may either augment or replace traditional lectures. As points of reference, representative PBL examples appear in the ACS publications Chemistry in the Community (ChemCom); "Choosing Petroleum Futures", Kendall/Hunt: Dubuque, IA, 1988, pp 194-195; and in the text Chemistry in Context, Applying Chemistry to Society, "Consider This: Reactions to the Problem of Global Warming," W. C. Brown: Dubuque, IA, 1994, p 83. For a PBL case study, see C. F. Herreid, "Case Study Teaching in Science: A Dilemma Case on `Animal Rights'", J. Coll. Sci. Teach. 1996, 25, 413. Persons with PBL interest or experience should contact the column organizer, Grant Krow, via email: Krow@chem.wisc.edu. Be sure to put PBL in the subject field of your message.

Fellowships Available

Undergraduate Research, Pharmaceutical Analysis

February 3, 1997, is the deadline for applications for the 1997 Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowship Program sponsored by the Analytical and Pharmaceutical Quality Section of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. The total award is for $3,500, including a $2,500 stipend. The fellowship encourages undergraduate students to consider a career - and perhaps graduate work - in pharmaceutical analysis. It is especially geared toward students in smaller colleges and universities who don't ordinarily have the opportunity to conduct research. The fellowships support ten weeks of laboratory research. For more information contact Craig E. Lunte, University of Kansas, Center for Bioanalytical Research, 2095 Constant Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66047. Phone: 913/864-7328; FAX: 913/864-5738; email: beall@smissman.hbc.ukans.edu.

Postdoctoral Fellowships for Minorities

The National Research Council plans to award approximately 20 Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships for Minorities who are citizens of the United States in a program designed to provide a year of continued study and research for Native American Indians, Alaskan Natives (Eskimo or Aleut), Black/African Americans, Mexican Americans/Chicanos, Native Pacific Islanders (Micronesians or Polynesians), and Puerto Ricans. Successful Fellows will select an appropriate not-for-profit institution of higher education or research to serve as host for the year of postdoctoral research. The deadline for submission of applications is January 3, 1997. Inquiries should be addressed to the Fellowship Office, TJ 2039, National Research Council, 2101 Constitution Avenue, Washington, DC 20418.

NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

The National Science Foundation makes possible a number of opportunities for undergraduates to join research projects each summer, allowing students to experience first hand how basic research is done and to contribute consequentially. The principal support by NSF of such activities is through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program. REU sites are established in all fields of science, mathematics, and engineering. Each site usually operates for about ten weeks in the summer, and consists of a group of ten or so undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution. Students are in general accepted from throughout the country; most come from schools other than the host institution. Each student is assigned to a specific research project, where he/she works closely with the faculty, post-docs, and graduate students. In addition, seminars, lunch meetings, and social functions are organized to facilitate interaction between the undergraduates. Students are granted stipends and, in some cases, assistance with housing and travel. Women and members of underrepresented minorities and those with disabilities or special needs are particularly urged to apply. The complete list of these sites can be obtained at http://www.nsf.gov/ftp/MPS/letters/reulist.txt.

The NSF Division of Materials Research announces the following fourteen REU sites that principally involve research in various aspects of condensed matter physics; solid state chemistry and polymers; materials theory; metals, ceramics, and electronic materials.

University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ 85721)
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Professor Brian Fabes 602/621-6372
Email: fabes@master.engr.arizona.edu
Electron Microanalysis of Advanced Ceramics

Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ 85287-1504)
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Professor Barry Ritchie 602/965-4707
Email: barry.ritchie@asu.edu
Theoretical and Experimental Condensed Matter Physics

Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ 85287-1604)br> Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Professor B. L. Ramakrishna 602/965-6560
Email: ramakrishna@asu.edu
Scanning Probe Microscopy in Materials Research

Cornell University-Endowed (Ithaca, NY 14853)
Materials Science Center
Professor John Silcox 607/255-4273
Email: jsilcox@msc.cornell.edu
REU Site Program for Interdisciplinary Materials Research at Cornell University

Fisk University (Nashville, TN 37208)
Department of Physics
Professor Warren E. Collins 615/329-8664
Email: NONE
Synthesis and Characterization Techniques of Advanced Electronic Materials

University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY 40506-0057)
Center of Membrane Sciences
Professor Leonidas G. Bachas 606/257-6350
Email: chm148@ukcc.uky.edu
Membrane Sciences

North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC 27695)
Department of Physics
Professor Michael Paesler 919/515-3155
Email: michael paesler@ncsu.edu
Experimental Studies of Solid Surfaces; Theoretical Studies of Macromolecules and Clusters

University of Nebraska (Lincoln, NE 68858-0113)
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Professor Diandra L. Leslie-Pelecky 402/472-9178
Email: diandra@unlinfo.unl.edu
Nanostructured Materials Research

University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, NM 87131)
Center for Micro-Engineered Ceramics
Professor Abhaya K. Datye 505/277-0477
Email: datye@boots.unm.edu
Micro-engineered Ceramics

Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK 74078)
Department of Physics
Professor George Dixon 405/744-6699
Email: Email: gdixon@uml.ucc.okstate.edu
Optical Materials and Lasers

Pennsylvania State University (University Park, PA 16801)
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Professor Merrilea J. Mayo 814/863-7330
Email: mayo@ems.psu.edu
Materials Processing for Optimized Properties

University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5157)
Department of Polymer Science
Professor Lon J. Mathias 601/266-4871
Email: lmathias@whale.st.usm.edu
A Two-Summer Research Experience in Polymers at USM and Industry

Stanford University (Stanford, CA 94305-5025)
Department of Chemical Engineering
Professor Curtis W. Frank 415/723-4573
Email: curt@chemeng.stanford.edu
Summer Undergraduate Research Experience at the Center on Polymer Interfaces and Macromolecular Assemblies (CPIMA)

The College of Wooster (Wooster, OH 44691)
Department of Physics
Professor Shila Garg 216/263-2586
Email: sgarg@acs.wooster.edu
Theoretical and Experimental Condensed Matter Physics

There are also REU summer programs at Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers across the country; for more information on these activities there is an NSF MRSEC WWW site at http://www.nsf.gov/mps/dmr/mrsec.htm. In addition, there are Science and Technology Centers for which information may be found at http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/allstc.

Free NSF Workshops for Undergraduate Faculty

The National Science Foundation is sponsoring Workshops in Chemistry for Undergraduate Faculty at Georgia State University (GSU) and Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech), both in Atlanta, GA. The dates, locations, and topics are:

December 8-13, 1996

Environmental Chemistry; Multimedia Techniques: at GSU

June 15-20, 1997

Multidimensional NMR; Molecular Modeling: at GSU

Molecular Orbital Theory; Mass Spectroscopy: at GA Tech

September 14-19, 1997

Multimedia Techniques: at GSU

Chemistry of Nucleic Acids; Introducing Materials Chemistry: at GA Tech

December 7-12, 1997

Environmental Chemistry; Molecular Modeling: at GSU

For more information and an application form, go to the GSU web page at http://heme.gsu.edu/programs/workshop.html or contact Cary Lyle, NSF Workshop Coordinator: email: chemlp@panther.gsu.edu; FAX: 404/651-1416; phone: 404/651-4737; mail: Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, University Plaza, Atlanta, GA 30303-3083.

1997 CMA Catalyst Awards Program

The Chemical Manufacturers Association is accepting nominations for its 1997 Catalyst Awards Program. The award program, since it was established in 1957, has honored 502 teachers of science, chemistry, chemical technology, and chemical engineering for their excellence in teaching. Each year up to 24 teachers receive CMA Responsible Care Catalyst Awards; each teacher will have demonstrated an exceptional ability to inspire students toward careers in chemistry and science-related fields through their dedication, knowledge, and innovative teaching methods. The program also draws public attention to the importance of quality chemistry and science education at all levels.

Colleagues, administrators, and friends are welcome to nominate teachers at the elementary school, middle school, high school, two-year college, or four-year college/university level in the U.S.A. and Canada. National winners receive $5000, a medal, and a citation. Regional winners receive $2500, a medal, and a citation. At all levels, national winners must have a minimum of 10 years teaching experience. Regional winners do not have requirements for years of teaching. Nominations must arrive at CMA by January 10, 1997; winners will be announced in April 1997. For nomination forms and guidelines, contact Toni Benton, c/o Prolist, 17904 Georgia Avenue, Suite 100, Olney, MD 20832. For more information, contact Hope Bonito at 703/741-5826.

Safety Training Seminars

J. T. Baker has announced the availability of its Fall 1996-Spring 1997 schedule of hazardous chemical safety, laboratory safety, hazardous waste management, and spill response seminars. The seminars range from one to three days and are scheduled in major cities across the U.S.A. They are designed to help meet existing state and federal regulations by providing practical, effective safety training for those who handle or use hazardous materials. Custom on-site seminars are also available for groups of five or more.

A workshop on Laboratory Safety Training has been scheduled in Orlando, FL, on April 21, 1997. The one-day seminar addresses the OSHA Laboratory and Hazard Communication Standards and provides important information regarding hazardous materials, protective equipment, lab spill response, labeling, and Material Safety Data Sheets. The course is appropriate for lab managers or chemical hygiene officers who are responsible for using safe practices in the laboratory and technicians who must implement the practices.

For more information contact Mallinckrodt Baker, Inc., 222 Red School Lane, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865; 908/859-9400; FAX: 908/859-6904.

Distance Learning Opportunity Leading to M.S. in Science Education

This new interdisciplinary Master of Science in Science Education degree was designed by educators and scientists for middle and high school science teachers. The program begins with summer seminars and classes at the Montana State University - Bozeman campus, continues with distance learning courses that students take from their homes or workplaces, and ends with a second on-campus summer session that includes a personalized capstone project. Students typically will complete the degree in 2-3 years. About two-thirds of the courses and credits will be taken off-campus by on-line computer-mediated communication. All students seeking the degree complete core courses including mathematical modeling for teachers; advanced studies in science teaching, learning, and curriculum; and integrated science in society. Core courses account for half of the total credits required for the degree. For the remaining credits, students select interdisciplinary combinations of science content courses emphasizing topics in biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics. For detailed information and application materials contact:

Intercollege Programs for Science Education

Linfield Hall 404

Montana State University - Bozeman

Bozeman, MT 59715-2805

Phone: 406/994-2023 or 406/994-3580

Email: reed@avicom.net or smrc@montana.edu

FAX: 406/994-3733

URL: http://www.montana.edu/wwwxws/btc.html