AASU
Sponsors Project SEED Program for Coastal Empire
Savannah, GA— This summer two rising juniors at Groves High School,
Toland Michael and Monica Richardson, received Project Seed Scholarships
from the American Chemical Society to work under the supervision of
Drs. Delana Nivens and Will Lynch in the Department of Chemistry and
Physics at AASU.
Project SEED is the American Chemical Society's summer program that
places qualified high school students in local scientific (government,
academic and industrial) laboratories. Students work under the mentorship
of research scientists on projects that provide exposure to the research
and discovery process in chemistry.
Michael and Richardson's projects are focusing on the development of
novel applications of nanoparticles including the incorporation of experiments
into the college curriculum. Nanoparticles are very small particles
where special quantum effects change the nature of the properties of
the materials from their bulk materials.
Michael is developing methods to prepare the naturally occurring mineral
magnetite, an iron oxide material that is magnetic. This mineral has
been shown to be a catalyst in decomposing chlorine-containing compounds
such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) when activated with visible light.
Richardson has been examining the properties of zinc and cadmium sulfide
materials. She is continuing studies on the use of these compounds for
degrading pollution using visible light.
This summer the program is generously supported in the Savannah area
by the American Chemical Society, the International Paper Company Foundation,
the Coastal Empire Local Section of the ACS and the College of Arts
and Sciences at Armstrong Atlantic State University.
In 2001, the ACS Project SEED Program was awarded the Presidential Award
for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring by
President George W. Bush. Over the past 34 years more than 6000 students
have participated in the program which pays students a stipend as well
as offers opportunities for college scholarships.
For information on becoming a Project SEED student or sponsor, contact
Will Lynch, Coastal Empire Project SEED coordinator, at 912.921.2337.
Further details are available at www.acs.org/education/student/projectseed.html.
July
28, 2003
