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These courses are part of the PSU
Science Cornerstone Project, with goals to make science accessible for ALL
students so that they can: |
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understand and apply fundamental
principles from one or more areas of scientific inquiry, |
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experience the methods and processes of
scientific inquiry, including experimental design, the recording,
quantification, and interpretation of observations, and the effective
communication of results, |
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access and utilize scientific
information and concepts in support of their life roles as individuals,
citizens, learners, consumers, producers, and family members, |
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comprehend the power and the
limitations of science as a way of understanding the world, including ways of
dealing with uncertainty, |
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recognize the interactions between science and other human
endeavors. |
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Study of the energy problem: a complex societal problem which has
a major technical component. |
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Designed to help non-science majors
understand the technical side of the energy problem as well as the
multidisciplinary effects of technical decisions on the social, political,
and economic framework. |
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Examination of energy requirements and
usage, energy resources, methods for producing energy, environmental and
economic implications of energy production, energy conservation, and energy
policies. |
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Power production techniques utilizing
coal, nuclear, solar, wind, geothermal, and other energy sources will be
studied. |
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Energy - sources, measurements,
interconversions |
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Renewable energy - water cycle, carbon
cycle, wind energy, geothermal, other resources |
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Solar energy - passive solar,
architectural design, solar collectors, photosynthesis |
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Photovoltaics - semiconductor
properties, performance criteria, manufacturing, economic and strategic
issues, system installation, data collection and analysis, educational uses |
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“Design and Construction of a
Small Scale Model of Hydro-power Plant” – by Scott Reed |
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“Design of a Windmill Power Plant
for a Township” – by Vivian Ahn, Kimmy Chang and Tarlan Torabi |
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“Development of a Lesson Plan for
5th and 6th Graders” – by J. Porter |
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“Fuel Cell Technology”
– by L. Lim, M. Hritova, and A. Stefanovic |
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“Environment Effects of
Hydro-power Plants” - by Jason Bryan, Heidi Brotherton, and Tim North |
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“Environmental Effect of Power
Generation in Oregon and Possible Solutions” – by Jared Smith and
Devin Stinger |
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“Environmental Effects of Nuclear
Power” – S. Koepping & T. Hawlett |
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“Study of Air Pollution
from Energy Generation” – by Matthew Moore |
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“Comparing Hybrid Vehicles: Toyota Prius and Honda Insight”
– by P. Cathey, S. Strang,
and E. Arnsberg |
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“The Future of Solar
Technology: A Study in Residential Application” – by Nancy Bliss,
and Rachel Burr |
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“The Self-sufficient
Home” – by Theron Luttmann, John Petkovich, and Jake Batty |
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“Passive Solar
Construction: Attached Sunspace Design with Solar Water Heating”
– by Allison Anderson, Robert Gibbens, and Daniel Martinez |
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“Tidal Basin Power:
Potential Energy Resource” – by Rose Mitchell and Juan Carlos Nuno |
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Applying Remote Sensing Research to
Earth Science Problems |
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NASA’s remote sensing data on
weather, cloud cover, ocean currents, climatic changes, and ozone
concentration, as well as petroleum, volcanic, asteroid and seismic activity
will be used throughout the courses. |
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Adapting Space Science Technologies to
Earth Science Applications |
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Students in the second term course
will build, monitor, and study energy production through photovoltaics -- a
space-based technology with viable application on Earth. |
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Increase Public Understanding of Earth
System Science |
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Preservice teachers will be advised
into these courses for both their content and pedagogy. A particular outcome of the summer
course will be to create curricular materials suitable for K-12 students. |
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Summative Evaluation Report to Portland
State University General Education faculty and administration, Summer 2002 |
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Paper Presentation at the Annual
Meeting of the Oregon Academy of Science, Winter 2002 |
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Panel Presentation at the Annual
Showcase Meeting of the Oregon Collaborative for Excellence in the
Preparation of Teachers, Summer 2002 |
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Report to Portland General Electric for
incorporation and dissemination through PGE’s Solar Education Project |
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Dissemination to the network of 45
teachers associated with the PSU Horizons Project |
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Publicity to local school districts and
their science faculty for Professional Development Units applicable for
continuing state teacher licensure |
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Advisory Board |
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Dr. Dean Livelybrooks, University of
Oregon, Physics Department. |
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Dr. Gilbert Yanow, Director, NSF
California Chautauqua Field Center, Educational Affairs Office, NASA/Jet
Propulsion Laboratory |
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Dr. Walt Hellman, Physics Teacher,
Hillsboro High School |
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Dr. Lorna Tran, College Success Skills
Department, |
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Portland Community College |
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Dr. John Koroloff, Professor of
Biology, Portland Community College |
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Collaborations for K-12 and Community
Outreach |
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Portland General Electric (PGE) |
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The Horizons Project at PSU |