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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WWW.KANSAN.COM News WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2008
SCIENCE
Summer program provides research oppotunities
BY BRIEUN SCOTT
bscott@kansan.com
The University of Kansas department of chemistry selected 10 participants from different schools across the country for its summer research program. For the past 20 years, the program has allowed students research experience and encouraged students to seek an advanced degree in chemistry.
The Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) is a 10-week program, targeting sophomores and juniors from smaller institutions with no advance degree in chemistry. The program is paid for by the
National Science Foundation (NSF).
Mikhail Barybin, program coordinator, said REU gave undergraduates their first real-life research experience. Barybin was an undergrad at the University of Minnesota when he participated in a REU program.
REU also offers professional development seminars. Selected students can partake in two seminars; one that introduces students to a career in chemistry and the other that helps them to develop professional skills. Speakers were invited to the program to talk with students and share information about an advanced degree in chemistry.
Barybin said although the program was not primarily a recruiting tool for the University, a number of past participants went to graduate school or became mentors.
Jimmie Weaver, left, a graduate student in the chemistry department, mentors David Morris, an undergraduate at Hastings College, on chemistry research as part of the NSF REU program. The program is designed to give research experience to undergraduates.
Mindy Ricketts/KANSAN
Jimmie Weaver, Duncan, Okla. graduate student, in organic chemistry, participated in the REU program in 2003 and is now a mentor. He completed the undergraduate program at Southern Nazarene University and took the summer REU program at the University. He said the program gave him the opportunity to do real life research.
"This program sets you up nicely for what it's like to be in a lab" Weaver said.
Barybin said very few students went through the program and realized that they didn't want to pursue a career in chemical science.
Weaver said he thought the program achieved its goal by giving experience to students from smaller universities where there was not a lot of research opportunities. He said REU helped him confirm his decision to pursue a career in chemistry.
"If it wasn't for the program, I would've been hesitant to go into that field," Weaver said.
Students were matched with faculty advisors and graduate and post graduate mentors for guidance during the program. Barybin said participants worked on individual research projects, which were presented at the end of the program at
the national and regional convention.
Glass said REU was a good tool of recruitment and encouraged students to pursue an advanced degree in chemistry. She said the program encouraged her decision. Glass said she hoped students were excited about chemistry and continued to learn about science.
Weaver said during his program, his adviser was attentive and involved with him. He said that the University was where students could come and get the attention of a faculty mentor.
"I had an amazing mentor. I still go to him," Glass said.
His past experience helped him to mentor his student participants. Weaver said he could relate to the undergraduates in the program.
"I've asked the question they ask," he said. "So when they come to me, I can give the logical approach to answering the question."
Amanda Glass, Emporia graduate student, said her mentor was
also attentive. Glass participated in REU in 2005 as an undergraduate at Emporia State.
"Where science can be frustrating, there are fewer things that could be more rewarding." Glass said.
Edited by Mandy Earles
》 COURT
Man indicted for child porn
22-year-old Lawrence man faces possession, purchase charges
BY CHRISTINE D'AMICO
cdamico@kansan.com
A 22-year-old Lawrence man was indicted on federal charges of allegedly purchasing child pornography.
On May 22, Channing Burgess was indicted for two reported purchases of child pornography on Dec. 18, 2006 and Aug. 17, 2007.
The Lawrence man is one of four caught in the federal government's recent child pornography raid. Also included in the charges are a 44-year-old Leavenworth man, a 36-year-old Atchison man and a 29-year-old Gardner man.
According to U.S. District
According to the indictment, he allegedly paid $79.99 twice, once in December 2006 and once in August 2007, for his membership to the site.
The Lawrence man is facing charges of purchase and possession of child pornography. If convicted, he could face at least 5 years and not more than 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 for the purchase charge and another 10 years $250,000 for the possession charge.
Attorney Eric Melgren, the four cases are not related.
The case was filed through a Department of Justice program entitled Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood coordinates state
The case was one of four Kansas cases filed with Project Safe in the beginning months of 2008 along with 12 other possible cases.
Information concerning the charges is being withheld until the summons meeting for the defendants.
"At this point, there is not much on public record about the crime," said Jim Cross, public information officer for U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren.
The Lawrence man will face charges on June 10 in federal court.
and federal resources to better target users and producers of childhood pornography.
Edited by Mike Nolan