Proposals and Awards

North Metro Mathematics Collaborative 2001

Faculty PI: Trudie Turner
Co-PI: Barbara Ferguson

Description: To provide workshops on timely topics for local high school and middle school math teachers

Sponsoring agency: EISENHOWER FUNDS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
Amount of funding: $ 24,753
Funding period: July 1, 2001 to July1, 2002

A Versatile, Technology-Intensive Earth Math

Faculty PI's: Nancy Zumoff and Christopher Schaufele
Co-PI's: Philippe Laval, Barbara Ferguson, Marian Fox and Marlene Sims.

Description: A Versatile, Technology Intensive Earth Math, funded by US Department of Education: FIPSE and the National Science Foundation is a continuation of the Earth Algebra and Earth Math projects. The goal of this project is to produce, evaluate and disseminate materials for classroom use and teacher training. Environmentally focused, reform based applications are incorporated into platform-independent software that has been created to do the mathematics and make the modules accessible to any student or teacher with a computer. The versatility of these materials allows an instructor to use them in the classroom as short projects or combine them into extended studies. Applications from three previous projects, also funded by the NSF and FIPSE, have been redesigned so for use in any course ranging from algebra through calculus independent of the course textbook. The project uniquely features: an inquiry-based format; web-based interactive materials; seamless interface with state-of-the-art technology; use of real environmental data; interesting, comprehensive applications of mathematical concepts; and versatility and flexibility of classroom use.

Jointly funded by the National Science Foundation ($249,095) and the US Department of Education: FIPSE ($218,537)
Funding period: 2000 to 2003

Technology Transitions Mathematical Modules for Preservice Teachers

Project Director: Marian Fox
Faculty PI's: Marjorie Economopoulos, Barbara Ferguson, Marian Fox.

Description: The Transitions Lab project addresses the need for K-12 teachers of mathematics to learn how use technology effectively as well as to develop a thorough understanding of mathematical concepts. This NSF and Board of Regents sponsored, a collaboration between the Bagwell College of Education and the Department of Mathematics has allowed KSU to establish a mathematics laboratory/classroom fully equipped with laptop computers, calculators, and a wide assortment of mathematical manipulatives. In addition, a library of "transitions modules" for use in mathematics and content courses for preservice teachers ranging from the early childhood to the secondary level are being developed. Focusing on a single mathematical concept, each transitions module leads the student through a series of investigations using a number of different technologies. These activities foster experiences in comparing and contrasting the uses of different technologies in learning and teaching mathematics.

Amount of funding: $250,000
Funding Period : 2000 to 2003

A methodology for Mapping Real-Time Embedded Systems Onto Single-Chip Multiprocessors for Optimal Performance

Faculty PI: Ken Hoganson, Ph.D.

Description: This funding request is to support a research project to develop a methodology for mapping real-time embedded systems onto single-chip multiprocessors for optimal performance. Continued increases in chip density will support single chip multiprocessors inexpensive enough to serve as platforms for embedded systems. Multiprocessors can enhance embedded systems performance in three ways: 1) Speeding up processing through parallel processing, which has a secondary benefit due to the faster processing which can ease the design process for hard real-time systems. 2) By distributing independent threads of execution across multiple execution units, real-time constrained threads of execution can be distributed to their own dedicated processor, easing system design problems by guaranteeing performance and behavior for critical functions. 3) Embedded multiprocessors add the capability of executing DSP algorithms without requiring separate DSP hardware.

Mapping software systems onto multiprocessors is a complex task that balances two major considerations [2], [4], [5]: 1) Maximizing the Degree of Parallelism (DOP) of the application which is the number of concurrent parallel pieces, which works to maximize the parallel speedup and performance of the application. 2) Minimize the communication overhead required to run the application in parallel. Increasing the DOP increases the number (and often size) of messages of data that must be exchanged between the parallel components of an algorithm. The time required to exchange data (whether through message passing or shared-memory) is non-computational overhead that detracts from speedup actually realized by a parallel system. The process of mapping the software to the hardware takes into account both these considerations in addition to real-time deadlines and other requirements.

Amount of funding: $29,000
Funding Period: Spring 2002 to Summer 2002

Database Courseware: Examples, Lab Exercises, Tests, and Animation

Faculty PI: Mario Guimaraes
Co-PI: Martha Myers

Description: This project proposes to create courseware that will be based on and will complement the most popular database textbooks by Date, Elmasri and Navathe, O'Neil, and McFadden. Our goal is to design and develop animated courseware that will deepen and enrich standard presentations of database topics to majors in computer science and related fields. The Elmasri/ Navathe book will be the central focus.

Funding agency: NSF-CCLI
Amount of funding: $74,967
Funding period: May 1, 2001 to April 30, 2003

Further info: http://coffee.kennesaw.edu

Integrating Current Technology Across the Biochemistry Curriculum

Faculty PI: Vicky L. H. Bevilacqua
Co-PI's Jennifer L. Powers, Ralph J. Rascati, Dale L. Vogelien

Description: This project involves the development, adaptation and implementation of new lab experiences in 4 lab courses in the biochemistry curriculum. New experiments or projects that employ the microtitre plate reader, electrophoresis and gel documentation equipment, and enzyme kinetics are being developed. The grant funds equipment, faculty release time and student assistant wages.

Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation
Amount of funding: $45,023 from NSF, $23,411 from ETACT
Funding Period (including 1-year extension): September 1, 1999 to August 31, 2002

Interdisciplinary Environmental Program: Environmental Chemistry Laboratory Course and Field-Based Environmental Science Capstone Course

Faculty PI's: Marina Koether, Don McGarey, Mark Patterson, Daniel Williams

Description: This grant funded the development of two courses and the creation of the Environmental Studies Minor. The new instrumentation allowed for a complete environmental assessment of an area of environmental concern and the lab course used state-of-the-art instrumentation for all of their environmental analyses.

Funding agency: National Science Foundation, NSF-DUE-CCLI-A&I #9950378
Amount of funding: $99, 650
Funding period: August 1999 to September 2002

Molecular Determinants for Cannabinoid Activity

Faculty PI: Patricia H. Reggio

Description: The major goals of the project are to use computational modeling supplemented by collaborative studies with experimentalists to understand the action of the cannabinoids at a molecular level.

Funding Agency: NIH. Type: 2 RO1 (DA03934). 3.
Amount of funding: $1,806,446
Funding period: July 1, 1985 to March 31, 2000
Current Award: $703,459
Year 14: $195,208

"Independent Scientist Award: Molecular Determinants for Cannabinoid Activity"

Faculty PI: Patricia H. Reggio

Funding agency: NIH. Type: 1 KO2 (DA00489)
Amount of funding: $530,396
Period: September 1, 2000 to August 31, 2005
Year 2: $102,899

This award provides 85% release time for Dr. Reggio, so that she can devote this time to research and to her Career Development / Training Plan.

"Dreyfus Foundation Scholar / Fellow Award"

Faculty PI: Patricia H. Reggio

Description: This award will be used to fund the salary of a post-doctoral student (Fellow) for two years. The purpose of the award is to train the Fellow for a faculty position in a predominantly undergraduate institution in which research is a priority. The Fellow will teach and be involved in a computational research project during his/her appointment. Dr. Reggio will supervise the training of this Fellow.

Funding agency: Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation
Funding period: November 1, 2000 to October 31, 2003
Total Award: $100,000
Year 1: $55,000

Cannabimimetic Ligands and Drugs

Faculty PI: Alex Makriyannis (U. Connecticut)
Co-PI: Patricia H. Reggio

Description: The goals of this project are to seek and identify the molecular features involved in cannabimimetic activity through the design, synthesis and testing of novel compounds. Correlations between structure and biochemical / pharmacological activities are probed. Dr. Reggio's lab provides both ligand-ligand and ligand-receptor modeling support for this project. Compounds studied are developed in Dr. Makriyannis' laboratory.

Funding agency: NIH. Type: RO1 (DA07215)
Funding period: March 1, 1996 to July 31, 2002
Total KSU Award: $82,869 Grant in No Cost Extension

NSF/Env. Science Act. 21st Century

Project Director: J. Pratte
Co-Pl:

Overall Awarded Amount: 322,245.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 5/1/03-4/30/06
Department: Biology & Phy Sci

NSF/CSEMS

Project Director: M. Guimaraes
Co-Pl:

Overall Awarded Amount: 400,000.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 10/1/02-9/30/06
Department: CSIS

NASA/GIT

Project Director: A. Lester
Co-Pl:

Overall Awarded Amount: 13,000.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 3/1/04-5/31/05
Department: Biology & Phy Sci

Quality Teacher/BioTech Wksp

Project Director: X. Hauge
Co-Pl:

Overall Awarded Amount: 22,109.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 3/15/04-6/30/05
Department: Biology & Phy Sci

GA Elections Divisions

Project Director: M. King
Co-Pl:

Overall Awarded Amount: 50,000.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 7/1/04-6/30/05
Department: SCM - GA Elections Div

Center for Elections Systems

Project Director: M. King
Co-Pl:

Overall Awarded Amount: 495,000.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 7/1/04-6/30/05
Department: SCM - GA Elections Div

Diebold Elections Systems

Project Director: C. Julian
Co-Pl:

Overall Awarded Amount: 231,521.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 11/1/04-7/31/05
Department: SCM - GA Elections Div

Minority Youth Opportunity Program

Project Director: A. Lester
Co-Pl:

Overall Awarded Amount: 8,439.58
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 7/1/03-6/30/05
Department: EDU - Minority Youth Opp

Quality Tch/TchCollaborative05

Project Director: W. Sanchez
Co-Pl:

Overall Awarded Amount: 20,573.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 3/15/04-6/30/05
Department: Math

Quality Teacher/MHS Algebra 05

Project Director: B. Ferguson
Co-Pl:

Overall Awarded Amount: 23,312.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 3/15/04-6/30/05
Department: Math

Quality Teacher/Meeting Challenges

Project Director: N. Ice
Co-Pl:

Overall Awarded Amount: 23,681.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 3/15/04-6/30/05
Department: Math

Quality Teacher/GA Tch Sup Yr 2

Project Director: M. Dias
Co-Pl:

Overall Awarded Amount: 63,792.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 3/15/04-6/30/05
Department: Biology & Phy Sci

NSF/CyberTech

Project Director: L. Peterson
Co-Pl's: Dr. Ben Setzer and Dr. Amy Woszczynski

Description: The CyberTech project is designed to address national concerns over the growing shortage of IT workers in the U.S. by introducing 600 high school students, especially under-represented groups, to the many, varied and exciting career opportunities in the IT field and prepare them to succeed in college-level degree programs in the computing sciences. The program also will be preparing 60 high school teachers to teach the AP Computer Science course. Our goal is to create a nationwide model in computer science high school education.

Overall Awarded Amount: 1,030,714.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 10/1/04-9/30/07
Department: SCM - Dean

NS/Nuclear Pathways

Project Director: L. Peterson
Co-Pl: Dr. Frank Settle of Washington & Lee University

Description: Nuclear Pathways (http://nuclearpathways.org) is a composite website that integrates its components into a comprehensive educational resource for nuclear issues. The four partner sites provide both content and bibliographical materials relating to a broad range of nuclear topics. Atomic Archive (atomicarchive.com) provides a repository of information on aspects of the nuclear age from the physics of nuclear weapons to the history of their development. Nuclear Files (http://nuclearfiles.org), a site sponsored by the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, provides a wide range of educational materials on the science, history, and politics of the nuclear age. Nuclear Chemistry and the Community (http://www.chemcases.com) section of the ChemCases website provides a concept map and educational modules for studying nuclear energy, including nuclear weapons and power generation. And finally, Alsos Digital Library for Nuclear Issues (http://alsos.wlu.edu) supports the other partner sites by providing vetted, indexed, annotations of over 1,600 references on diverse aspects of nuclear issue.

Overall Awarded Amount: 129,368.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 10/1/04-9/30/07
Department: SCM - Dean

Teacher Quality/Next Generation

Project Director: J. Pratte
Co-Pl: Matt Laposata

Description: This grant is an adaptation of a successful post-secondary laboratory
program for use in middle and high school classrooms. The Environmental
Science Activities for the 21st Century project (ESA21) uses a novel
mixture of hands-on, field, and Internet based activities to engage
students on a variety of topics that span all scientific disciplines.
The use of these activities has been shown to increase student interest
and learning in science using content and pedagogical techniques
consistent with state performance standards for middle and high schools.
This innovative yearlong teacher workshop will bring middle and
secondary teacher together to create the necessary adaptations of the
activities for their classrooms, test them in the classroom, and assess
the results.

Overall Awarded Amount: 32,165.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 3/31/05-6/30/06
Department: Biology & Phy Sci

TchQuality/Embracing Visions

Project Director: W. Sanchez
Co-Pl:

Overall Awarded Amount: 40,537.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 3/31/05-6/30/06
Department: Math

TchQuality/MeetingChallenges06

Project Director: W. Sanchez
Co-Pl:

Overall Awarded Amount: 14,936.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 3/31/05-6/30/06
Department: Math

NSF/Teams

Project Director: M. Laposata
Co-Pl: Tom Brown (Education)

Description: The goal of this project is to strengthen science education in the United States by improving elementary teacher attitudes towards, and capabilities and confidence in, implementing inquiry-based science in the classroom. Many recent reform initiatives have suggested a shift to inquiry-based approaches to science teaching, and as science instruction in elementary school forms the basis for future learning, there should be a particular emphasis on inquiry teaching at this level. The inquiry approach requires that teachers have an enthusiasm for science and a sound content knowledge base in the discipline, but surveys of elementary educators have shown that these conditions are not being met. To meet these needs of elementary educators, the project will develop and evaluate five innovative, engaging, technology-enhanced, inquiry-based activity modules that will serve as teaching resources for undergraduate courses in elementary education at Kennesaw State University. The modules will use computer-based technologies to (1) present relevant science content in an engaging manner, (2) provide digital video clips on activity presentation from a “virtual mentor”, and (3) take the “unpredictability” out of inquiry teaching by enabling teachers to observe the activity in action with elementary students and prepare for common student responses and questions. If successful in the “proof of concept” stage of development, the project will be expanded with additional modules and national dissemination of the materials produced.

Overall Awarded Amount: 68,438.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 5/1/05-4/30/07
Department: Biology & Phy Sci

Merck/Undergrad Sci Res Prog

Project Director: M. Koether
Co-Pl's: Dr. Heather Sutton, Sean Ellermeyer, Xueya Hauge, Jerald Hendrix, Jesse Jaynes, and Jennifer Powers

Description: Dr. Marina Koether, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Dr. Heather Sutton, Department of Biological and Physiological Sciences, and six of their colleagues, received a $60,000 award ($20,000 annually for three years for the summers of 2004, 05 and 06) from the Merck Company Foundation under their Merck/AAAS Undergraduate Science Research Program. As a result, five students each year will be selected through a competitive process to conduct interdisciplinary research with KSU biology and chemistry faculty during an intensive, ten-week period in the summer. Each student receives $3000 for their participation and the remaining funds are used for research supplies and informal lunch/research meetings. The Merck/AAAS program, administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), is designed to enhance undergraduate science education through research experiences that emphasize the interrelationship between chemistry and biology. For more information please visit: http://science.kennesaw.edu/Merck-AAAS/

Overall Awarded Amount: 40,000.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 4/1/04-9/30/05
Department: Chemistry

Survey for Enzyme Activity

Project Director: B. Condon
Co-Pl:

Overall Awarded Amount: 30,139.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 2/3/05-2/1/06
Department: Chemistry

Information Security Seminar

Project Director: M. Whitman
Co-Pl:

Overall Awarded Amount: 7,500.00
Grant Start Date/ End Date: 4/1/05-6/30/05
Department: CSIS