The KSU Program for Integrating Education and Research is an continuation of activities for which Kansas State University received a Recognition Award for the Integration of Research and Education (RAIRE) from the National Science Foundation. The KSU RAIRE award was for an activity which seems to be unique to KSU -- taking research ideas to in-service and pre-service teachers. Three projects were described in the award application.

The GENE (Genetics Education Network) project is an interdisciplinary effort to introduce in-service teachers to modern research techniques in molecular genetics. The primary faculty involved are Tom Manney (Physics), Beth Montelone (Biology), Larry Davis,(Biochemistry), and Larry Weaver, (Physics). GENE instructional materials are now distributed nationwide.

The Elementary Education Project tested a science specialist curriculum for future teachers. Only one part of this large effort involved integrating research and education. The students completed a "capstone" course on ecology. During this course the students completed research-like activities on the Konza Prairie. A large number of faculty were involved in the project including Emmett Wright (Adult Education), Gail Shoyer, (Elementary Education), Bill Parker (Math), Andy Bennett (Math), Cliff Meloan (Chemistry) Ann Smith (Biology), John Staver (Science Education), Larry Scharmann (Secondary Education) and Dean Zollman (Physics).

Visual Quantum Mechanics is an effort to create materials which introduce students and teachers to contemporary research ideas in physics. Our goal is to show how quantum physics is applied to objects and phenomena that students encounter everyday. We use hands-on activities and computer visualizations as the primary methods of teaching .Dean Zollman is the primary faculty in this project. Bob Hower (Art) is helping with visualizations. We have offered a course in contemporary physics for future science teachers who are not majoring in physics and a summer program for in-service teachers. We are also distributing instructional materials to high schools and colleges nationwide.

We will use the award funds ($500,000) to continue similar types of activities. Our aim is to continue to concentrate on getting research ideas to pre-service and in-service teachers through hands-on activities and, perhaps, to expand and include similar activities in some of the general education courses.