HR: 1340h
AN: ED33B-1220    [Abstracts]
TI: The Barrett Foundation: Undergraduate Research Program for Environmental Engineers and Scientists
AU: Rizzo, D M
EM: drizzo@cems.uvm.edu
AF: College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Votey Hall, 33 Colchester Ave, Burlington, VT 05405, United States
AU: Paul, M
EM: thebarrettfoundation@yahoo.com
AF: The Barrett Foundation, 7226 Residencia, Newport Beach, CA 92660, United States
AU: Farmer, C
EM: cffarmer@uvm.edu
AF: College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Votey Hall, 33 Colchester Ave, Burlington, VT 05405, United States
AU: Larson, P
EM: plarson@uvm.edu
AF: College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Votey Hall, 33 Colchester Ave, Burlington, VT 05405, United States
AU: Matt, J
EM: jeremy.matt@gmail.com
AF: College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Votey Hall, 33 Colchester Ave, Burlington, VT 05405, United States
AU: Sentoff, K
EM: ksentoff@uvm.edu
AF: College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Votey Hall, 33 Colchester Ave, Burlington, VT 05405, United States
AU: Vazquez-Spickers, I
EM: ivazquez@cems.uvm.edu
AF: College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Votey Hall, 33 Colchester Ave, Burlington, VT 05405, United States
AU: * Pearce, A R
EM: arpearce@uvm.edu
AF: College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, University of Vermont, Votey Hall, 33 Colchester Ave, Burlington, VT 05405, United States
AB: A new program sponsored by The Barrett Foundation in the University of Vermont College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (UVM) supports undergraduate students in Environmental Engineering, Earth and Environmental Sciences to pursue independent summer research projects. The Barrett Foundation, a non-profit organization started by a UVM Engineering alum, provided a grant to support undergraduate research. Students must work with at least two different faculty advisors to develop project ideas, then independently prepare a research proposal and submit it to a faculty panel for review. The program was structured as a scholarship to foster a competitive application process. In the last three years, fourteen students have participated in the program. The 2007 Barrett Scholars projects include: - Using bacteria to change the chemistry of subsurface media to encourage calcite precipitation for soil stability and pollutant sequestration - Assessing structural weaknesses in a historic post and beam barn using accelerometers and wireless data collection equipment - Using image processing filters to 1) evaluate leaf wetness, a leading indicator of disease in crops and 2) assess the movement of contaminants through building materials. - Investigating the impact of increased water temperature on cold-water fish species in two Vermont streams. - Studying the impacts of light duty vehicle tailpipe emissions on air quality This program supports applied and interdisciplinary environmental research and introduces students to real- world engineering problems. In addition, faculty from different research focuses are presented the opportunity to establish new collaborations around campus through the interdisciplinary projects. To date, there is a successful publication record from the projects involving the Barrett scholars, including students as authors. One of the objectives of this program was to provide prestigious, competitive awards to outstanding undergraduate engineers who wish to pursue a specific research project under the mentorship of faculty members who are leading scholars in their fields. We not only wanted to create a valuable experience for the undergraduate engineers, but also felt that creating a competitive and prestigious award would create excitement and convince other undergraduate engineers to pursue research experiences.
DE: 0810 Post-secondary education
DE: 1819 Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
DE: 1824 Geomorphology: general (1625)
DE: 1847 Modeling
DE: 1871 Surface water quality
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting