T he Center for Mathematics, Science,

and Technology (CeMaST) at

Illinois State University was established

in 1990 with the mission of integrating

and improving the teaching and learning

of science, technology, and mathematics

for students across the K-12 and

university spectrum. Since it's inception,

CeMaST has led Illinois State University

in major curriculum and professional

development projects funded by

national (NSF, DoEd, NIH) and state

(ISBE, IBHE) agencies.

In recent years, engineering has been

added to these three fields to create the

acronym STEM—which stands for

science, technology, engineering, and

mathematics. Twenty years later,

CeMaST's mission has broadened—to

enable and improve teaching and

learning in all the STEM disciplines. As a

society, however, we face a number of

problems that share particular

characteristics:

The problems of and solutions for our

current and future world are

primarily interdisciplinary.

The problems will be solved by

collaboration—locally, regionally,

nationally, and internationally.

The problems will be solved by

teams of scientists, technicians,

engineers, and mathematicians

working collaboratively and

innovatively to improve the lives of

people everywhere.

The next generation of STEM

professionals must be taught in such

a manner as to enable them to work

col laborat ively with o ther

professionals from diverse fields.

Future work should be grounded in

research that established successful

methods for achieving goals.

These characteristics have led to the

development of The CeMaST Stance:

Although we will support individual

projects, our focus will be to encour-

age and pursue projects and ideas

that bring together professionals

from multiple disciplines.

We will focus on problems that affect

the day-to-day lives of people around

the world and encourage STEM

students and professionals to tackle

them. We may support basic

research, but we will preferentially

support applied and integrated

solutions to current problems.

We will preferentially promote

projects that have an interdiscipli-

nary research and/or outreach

component.

We will work on projects that have

both local interest and national

significance.

In practice, The CeMaST Stance leads to

our current initiatives: The Urban STEM-

Ed Initiative, The K12 Engineering

Education Initiative, The Innovative Design

Project, and Research and Outreach

Initiatives. These initiatives help us to

decide which projects we should pursue

including support for The Chicago

Teacher Pipeline, The American Solar Car

Challenge, Math Science Partnerships

such as Engaged STEM and Global

Climate Change: Threatened Species,

Threatened Environments, and an as-yet-

unnamed project which uses the fine arts

to help students learn in mathematics and

science.

The CeMaST Stance: A Note From Our Director

CeMaST Newsletter CeMaST Newsletter

SEPTEMBER 2010

Upcoming Events:

September 11—Noyce

Banquet and Urban STEM

Alumni Event in Evanston, IL

September 25 — RSO STEM

Challenge Tailgate

October 1 — deadline for

Professional Innovation Grant

October 1 — deadline for Fall

Teacher Innovation Grant

More information, including details

about Registration, can be found at

our website:

CeMaST.IllinoisState.edu

As you read the newsletter, view our

website, encounter our publications,

hear about CeMaST's other efforts, and

respond to CeMaST’s request for

proposals; we hope that you, too, will

see the CeMaST Stance as an important

and strong influence in what we do.

Willy Hunter

Director of CeMaST

The Journal of Technology Education (JTE) is one of most prestigious

research-based journals in the technology education profession.

Originally edited by Dr. Mark Sanders (Technology Education, Virginia

Tech) and Dr. James LaPorte (Technology Education, Millersville

University), Dr. Chris Merrill (Technology Education, Illinois State

University), has just accepted the appointment as new Editor. The JTE

provides a forum for scholarly discussion on topics relating to technology

education. Manuscripts focus on technology education research,

philosophy, and theory. In addition, the JTE publishes book reviews,

editorials, guest articles, comprehensive literature reviews, and reactions

to previously published articles. Since the inception of the JTE (1989), it

has always been available in both print and electronic forms. The JTE is co

-sponsored by the International Technology and Engineering Educators

Association and the Council on Technology Teacher Education.

Manuscripts that appear in the Articles section have been subjected to a

blind review by three or more members of the Editorial Board. Book

reviews, editorials, and reactions are reviewed by the Editor and/or

Associate Editor. All issues of the Journal of Technology Education may be

accessed on the World Wide Web at: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/

ejournals/JTE/ (Note: this URL is case sensitive).

CeMaST supports Dr. Merrill and other journal editors on campus through

journal management, subscriber services, and technical editing.

We congratulate Dr. Merrill for this prestigious accomplishment and look

forward to supporting his work over the next few years.

The Center for Mathematics, Science and

Technology (CeMaST) will again be offering

Professional Innovation Grants to support

faculty, instructors, faculty associates and

AP staff with teaching responsibilities

involved in science, technology,

engineering and mathematics. Grants can

be used to support new or innovative

research projects, travel to professional

conferences or workshops, funding a guest

speaker or an event on campus, etc.

Preference will be given to submissions

which emphasize Urban STEM and Urban

STEM Education, STEM Outreach, and K-12

Engineering. Successful applicants

(individuals or teams) can receive up to

$5000. The deadline to apply for this year’s

Professional Innovation Grants is October 1,

2010.

This year, in addition to the grants offered

for ISU personnel, CeMaST will also be

offering Teacher Innovation Grants to

support Illinois K-12 teachers involved in

STEM teaching, learning and research in a

variety of ways. These grants can be used

to support new or ongoing teaching

projects or to match funds of grants already

received for innovative STEM projects.

Preference will be given to projects that

center on the integration of multiple STEM

disciplines, involve collaboration, have a

far-reaching impact, and originate in a

high-needs school as defined by the Illinois

State Board of Education. Successful

applicants can receive up to $500. The

|deadline to apply for this fall’s Teacher

Innovation Grants is October 1, 2010.

More information about eligibility,

application materials, and evaluation

criteria for both the Professional Innovation

Grants and the Teacher Innovation Grants

can be found on our website:

CeMaST.IllinoisState.edu

Professional Innovation Grants Now Available

Recent Events

Illinois high school

students took part in

our Illinois Summer

Research Academy,

July 12-16.

More than 75 Illinois

teachers took part in

o u r s u m m e r

workshops in July,

which focused on

threatened species, an

integra ted math/

science curriculum,

laser methods, and

Illinois geology.

Page 2

CEMAST NEWSLETTER

Journal of Technology Education Moves to ISU

Dr. Chris Merrill (Technology Education

at Illinois State University) is the newly

appointed editor of the Journal of

Technology Education.

CeMaST Summer Program Wrap Up

geologically important and prevalent sites, including

former and current quarries and faults in Cape

Girardeau, Harrisburg, Anna, and the Shawnee

National Forest.

CeMaST also welcomed the first annual Illinois

Summer Research Academy high school researchers to

campus this summer. Ten high school students from

across Illinois spent one week on campus participating

in research learning both field and laboratory

techniques. The event culminated with the presentation

of their findings in closing ceremony. Finally, Bugs for

Kids has continued to hop around town presenting our

Lubber Grasshoppers. Our fascinating insects have

made appearances at Sugar Grove Nature Center,

Unity Community Center, and Katie’s Kids. If you would

like more information on Bugs for Kids, please contact

CeMaST at (309) 438-3089.

The Center for Mathematics, Science, and Technology is

wrapping up a busy and productive summer. There

have been a number of events that have taken place

with many of our programs. On June 25-26, CeMaST

partnered with The Children’s Discovery Museum and

the Town of Normal to welcome the American Solar

Challenge to the Normal Pit stop. This all day event

featured 14 solar car teams from all over the world. The

event featured food and games as well as a morning

send off from Uptown Normal.

In addition to the American Solar Challenge, CeMaST

welcomed a number of teachers to Illinois State

University throughout June and July for four different

workshops. In the Global Climate Change: Threatened

Species, Threatened Environments workshop, high

school science teachers were trained in a wide variety

of scientific techniques and technologies in the field and

lab. The Engaged STEM workshop provided teams of

middle school teachers with an opportunity to learn how

to implement an integrated math and science

curriculum called IMaST.

In addition, about 30 chemistry teachers from around

the state of Illinois met for two weeks this summer to

continue their work towards their Master's degree

through the IMSP grant. The teachers learned about

lasers and how they work, what they are used for in

chemistry (along with other applications), and how they

might use low energy lasers for experiments with their

students.

Finally, Illinois Earthscope had 22 teachers assisted by

seven instructors. They learned about using the

USArray to measure structure and changes in the earth’s

crust as part of the larger Earthscope project. They also

spent 5 days in Missouri and southern Illinois visiting

Page 3

SEPTEMBER 2010

Volunteer your time by participating in one of the following

events:

Attend Urban STEM Alumni Events—May 6th and

September 11th in Chicago

Serve as a research mentor for students in the

High School Research Symposium

In addition, we are looking for people with expertise or in-

terest in working on:

Global Climate Change Education Initiatives

TUES—Transforming Undergraduate Education in

Science, Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics (formerly CCLI)

due January 2011

Ways to Get Involved

Contact Us: CeMaST@IllinoisState.edu

Director of CeMaST, Dr. William Hunter, is

pleased to announce that Dr. Kevin

Laudner, Associate Professor in the

School of Kinesiology and Recreation, will

become Associate Director of CeMaST

beginning August, 2010. Dr. Laudner will

begin a three-year term in which he will

act as liaison to the College of Applied

Science and Technology and provide

leadership in CeMaST. Dr. Laudner brings

a wealth of technical expertise to CeMaST

as he is a highly regarded and sought

after leader and consultant in the

prevention, evaluation, and treatment of

various orthopedic related injuries.

Dr. Hunter upon making the appointment

indicated that ―this marks a new day for

CeMaST – we anticipate Dr. Laudner

being able to lead new projects that

CeMaST would never have contemplated

before. His leadership will promote novel

research and technical projects that cross

Center for Mathematics, Science, and

Technology

210 W. Mulberry St.

Campus Box 5960

Normal, IL 61790-5960

Phone: 309-438-3089

Fax: 309-438-3592

E-mail: cemast@ilstu.edu

many disciplinary boundaries and

provide interdisc ip l inary STEM

opportunities for students and faculty.‖

Dr. Laudner’s stature as a world-class

researcher enhances both the reputation of

Illinois State University and of CeMaST. In

commenting upon his appointment, Dr.

Laudner said ―I am very excited about

joining CeMaST because of their strong

history of promoting and supporting the

STEM fields. It is an honor to have been

appointed to this position and I look

forward to working closely with the entire

CeMaST personnel, as well as local, state,

and national students, teachers, and

researchers with the shared goal of

enhancing STEM education.‖ We invite

you to contact Dr. Laudner with both

congratulations and ideas that you would

like to pursue. He can be reached at

438-5197 or at klaudne@ilstu.edu.

Kevin Laudner named CAST Associate Director of CeMAST

For m ore new s a nd i n form at i on ,

V i s i t our w ebs i t e :

C eMa ST . I l l i no i s S t a t e . e du

Kevin Laudner

CAST Associate Director of CeMaST