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Items related to Augsburg University

8th Annual Applying for Paid Research Experiences in STEM Workshop Takes Place at Augsburg

On November 9th Augsburg University hosted the 8th Annual Applying for Paid Research Experiences in STEM Workshop and Dinner. The event drew over 75 students, staff, and faculty from Augsburg University, Century College, Hamline University, Inver Hills Community College, Metropolitan State University, Minneapolis College, Normandale Community College, Saint Paul College, and The University of Minnesota.

Dixie Shafer of URGO and Lara Crombie of the TRIO McNair Scholars program led the workshop on identifying and applying for Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs). They offered practical advice on finding, applying for, and selecting opportunities.

Check out their presentation here: Paid Research Experiences in STEM: Identifying Opportunities and Applying.

Post-workshop, Participants Split into Concurrent Panels.

Dr. Jennifer Brookins-King facilitated the student and alumni panel on research experiences and perspectives. The six panelists included current undergraduates at Augsburg and the Seated panelists speak into a microphoneUniversity of Minnesota, industry professionals, and a Ph.D. candidate. They shared their research journeys, discussed challenges, offered advice, and fielded audience questions.

Dr. Rebekah Dupont moderated the faculty and staff panel, Supporting Equitable Access and Participation in Research Experiences. The panelists, each representing centers which offer undergraduate research experiences, shared advice about preparing quality applications and what faculty might do to support their students in the process of securing a research opportunity.

The event concluded with dinner, discussion, and networking. Thank you to the panelists, facilitators, and guests for making the 8th Annual REU workshop a fun, informative, afternoon!

NSF GRANT SUPPORTS MATHEMATICS AND DATA FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE SUMMER SEMINAR

Prof. John Zobitz lectures in front of a whiteboard. His laptop is in the foreground.
How does math explain the real world?

This question has been at the heart of Professor John Zobitz’s career as a mathematician and data scientist. Now he’s working to help other faculty bring a social justice lens to mathematics and statistics education.

With a $50,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, Zobitz and colleagues from Concordia College–Moorhead, Winona State University, and Anoka-Ramsey Community College will convene an inaugural three-day conference for math instructors this summer.

The Mathematics and Data for Social Justice Summer Seminar aims to help faculty at two- and four-year colleges teach math in context, using examples such as credit risk modeling or differential impacts from climate change to illustrate core concepts.

From a teaching standpoint, this means seeking out appropriate data sets, exploring local issues, and developing greater capacity to manage classroom conversations about social justice. Seminar facilitators include Gizen Karaali and Lily Khadjavi, editors of “Mathematics for Social Justice: Resources for the College Classroom,” to which Zobitz was a contributing author.

After this summer’s gathering, the organizers aim to develop a community of practice that will provide ongoing collaboration and peer support as faculty work to make their teaching more culturally relevant and responsive. They will also share lessons and curricular resources with other institutions through the Mathematical Association of America’s regional conference.

“Our goal is to enact change in the classroom by starting at the instructor level,” said Zobitz. “But we also hope that this seminar will serve as a model for professional development aimed at advancing equity in STEM fields.”

Link to the original piece.

Communication and Collaboration in Green Chemistry at Augsburg University

Michael Wentzel, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry at Augsburg University, develops green synthetic methods within the field of sustainable chemistry, focusing both on developing new experiments with undergraduate researchers and on communicating about green chemistry methods and results to the general public. His varied interests and initiatives exemplify the importance of communication for the sciences and the power of collaborations across departments, institutions, and nations.

View the full article on PUPN