Discipline: Chemistry & Chemical Sciences
Subcategory: STEM Science and Mathematics Education
Ishrat Khan - Clark Atlanta University
Co-Author(s): Michael Williams, James Reed, and Madge Willis, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA
Clark Atlanta University’s Center for Functional Nanoscale Materials (CFNM) was established in 2006 through the NSF CREST Program. The NSF CREST CFNM has developed into an ecosystem with porosity of movement among Federal laboratories, academia and private industry that conducts transformative research, improves national security and increases national prosperity; and, most importantly, develops innovative and creative STEM talent for the 21st Century. The Center has become a major producer of PhD scientists from groups underrepresented in the science and technology areas. A total number of doctoral degree awarded by the NSF CREST CFNM is twenty-seven (27) so far with three of these being awarded by our partner institution i.e. Cornell University. Furthermore, during the same period the NSF CREST CFNM has also awarded thirteen (13) MS degree. NSF CREST CFNM currently has a community of fifteen (15) students working with CREST CFNM faculty. During the just completed academic year (2015-2016), five students earned the doctoral degree with research concentration in material sciences. The accomplishment is quite significant, because of the number of PhD’s awarded to this group. The NSF CREST Center for Functional Nanoscale Materials served as a site, for the past seven years and the only site in the State of Georgia, for the ACS (American Chemical Society) Project SEED program. Additionally, the NSF CREST CFNM is also a site for the Army Research Office URAP (undergraduate apprenticeship program) and HSAP (high school apprenticeship program). CREST CFNM also runs a summer REU program in partnership with Fort Valley State, as a HBCU located in Fort Valley, GA. The story of NSF CREST CFNM will be presented.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF, ARO and ACS Project SEED
Faculty Advisor: None Listed,