Courtney Wheeler rattles off the ingredients of a lightweight concrete mixture like someone reciting a treasured family recipe. She knows the amounts, what each ingredient does and why it works to create a structure light enough to float with four people in it, but sturdy enough to hold those people. An Air Force Reservist, Wheeler's know-how and leadership skills made her a natural captain for the College of Engineering and Computing's entry in this year's Concrete Canoe Competition.
The University of South Carolina's College of Education has launched a campaign to recruit more math and science teachers. Using a grant from the Duke Energy Foundation, the Department of Instruction and Teacher Education will use the funds to recruit, place and train teachers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics--commonly called "STEM" education. Keenan High School math teacher Anthony Myers is a graduate of the program, and gets an "A" from his students on how he runs his class.
Science fairs in the United States have a long and storied history, one that reflects trends and attitudes in the larger American culture. They also embody the spirit of childhood imagination and ingenuity. Graduate student Sarah Scripps' dissertation-in-progress, "Science Fairs before Sputnik," puts that history under the microscope.
