From the lab to the classroom: ERDC welcomes Army’s largest group of STEM teachers – The Vicksburg Post

VICKSBURG, Miss. – After spending 4 weeks studying alongside engineers and scientists at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), 18 teachers are heading again to the classroom with a renewed love for science and expertise.

Established in 2004, the Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) supplies accessible STEM alternatives that develop and mentor the subsequent era via actual-world experiences, competitions and paid internships. As a associate of AEOP since its starting, ERDC led the Army with the most scholar teachers enrolled in the Research Experiences for STEM Educators and Teachers (RESET) program – a division of the AEOP.

RESET supplies excessive-college and center-college teachers a summer season expertise working with world-class scientists and engineers at taking part Army Research Centers, which has confirmed to not solely renew the teachers’ love for science and expertise, but additionally enrich the work taking place at ERDC.

For 4 weeks this summer season, scholar teachers immersed themselves in ERDC’s analysis and experiments.

“Having people in the labs that are enthusiastic about the work that we are doing is always very helpful – it is good for me, good for the research and good for ERDC,” mentioned Luke Gurtowski, a analysis chemical engineer in ERDC’s Environmental Lab (EL).

Gurtowski has been concerned in the AEOP program for 5 years. This 12 months, EL had 5 scholar teachers who are usually not solely receiving priceless palms-on expertise, but additionally forming relationships with researchers like Gurtowski, who keep related all through the 12 months.

“This is my summer home,” mentioned Tiska Rodgers, a trainer from Missouri who has spent the final 5 years working as a scholar trainer via the RESET program.

“This experience reminds you that it’s a big world and allows you to bring some of the things that you are learning back to your students,” Rodgers mentioned when requested why she chooses to come again to ERDC every summer season.

“I’ve been able to help my students in their research projects because of the connections that I’ve made through RESET,” added Rodgers, who’s getting into her twenty third 12 months of educating.

While filling Falcon tubes with a inventory answer, one other trainer mentioned that being in the lab at ERDC is like “reigniting the spark.”

“You teach consecutively for 45-minute blocks, so you get burned out with the same curriculum,” mentioned Keishelle Pete, a chemistry and forensic science trainer in Houston, Texas.  “Being in the lab reignites the spark and it helps teachers get excited about learning again.”

For the final two months, six of ERDC’s seven labs hosted scholar teachers from all completely different backgrounds.

Suneetha Panda, who spent 12 years educating in India and 10 years in the United States, spent her first summer season at ERDC with the Coastal Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL). When she returns to her excessive-college college students in Georgia, Panda desires to present them what actual analysis seems to be like.

“After seeing the projects that are happening here, I want to incorporate hydroponics in my classroom to teach my students how to propagate their own food without soil and a ton of space – I want to show them how you can even use fish that enhance the water with nitrates,” mentioned Panda. “I want to teach my students about sustainability and inspire them to do something for society through science.”

“As a former educator, I see the RESET program as a fantastic opportunity to showcase the wide range of STEM career paths available at ERDC,” mentioned Tracy Gordon, who serves as the coordinator for ERDC’s integration and STEM outreach in the Directorate of Human Capital.

“Hands-on experience with real-world research helps improve classroom teaching and better prepares students for STEM careers,” mentioned Gordon. “ERDC is also able to strengthen its connections with schools and play an important role in developing future scientists and engineers.”