Describes a competency-based, modular laboratory course emphasizing the synthesis and characterization of polymers and directed toward senior undergraduate and/or first-year graduate students in science and engineering. One module, free-radical polymerization kinetics by dilatometry, is included as a sample. (CS)

Described is the National Sea Grant College Program which supports education and training, research, and advisory extension services through the National Office of Sea Grant and the Sea Grant Network of 30 programs in coastal and Great Lake states. Water-related topics include water's relationship to nature, society, and human expression.…

Presents examples of combination, decomposition, replacement metathesis, and neutralization chemical reactions. Suggests that students will gain knowledge of some general trends in the chemical properties of the main group and transition elements by examining reaction types. (JN)

Reports the results of a survey of practicing scientists, recent graduates, and undergraduates about their perceptions of undergraduate laboratory programs in biology, chemistry, and physics. Scientists and graduates regard laboratory experiences in pragmatic terms stressing the scientific process skills while undergraduates regard laboratories as…

The Australian Web of Life biology course is evaluated as to its philosophy and mode of instruction. The study reveals that the use of inquiry-oriented practices is relatively low and that teachers consider the objectives of the course more important than do their classes. (Author/DS)

Describes five environmental awareness activities which can be integrated into any elementary school classroom situation. Activity oriented experiences are described utilizing field experiences, group work, language experience, role playing and the inquiry method. Activity topics include the meaning of environment, introduction to natural and…

Investigates the opinions of 991 Israeli junior high school students with regard to their choices and preferences of science subjects. Findings show that preferred subjects were chosen both from school curricula and from having agents outside the school. (HM)

Shows that solar-related courses and programs are being offered by a large number of institutions around the country, and explains how to get relevant information about the subject. (GA)

Reviews of a study of curriculum and instruction in the sciences and social sciences in two-year colleges. Considers curriculum planning problems, the method of conducting the study, the percentage of colleges offering courses, and the availability of appropriate courses for transfer, occupational, and developmental students, and for nonscience…

Presents a model for teaching the principles of evolution. The model presents three major factors that direct changes and affect an individual's fitness. Uses and adaptations of the model are suggested. (Author/SA)

Discusses the development of a curriculum in physics and biology designed to help prepare academically disadvantaged college students, most of whom are members of racial or ethnic minority groups. Reasons are given for addressing concept formation and reasoning development together, and for direct experience preceding discussion of formal…

Discusses the development of science programs for Australian secondary school students of year 11 and 12. A modular science syllabus which has been developed in New Zealand and some examples of how some Australian schools have devised unified science programs are also discussed. (HM)

Discusses the use of formulae in the teaching of chemistry as part of the individual culture and of the conceptual structure of chemistry. A historical viewpoint on the procedures for structure representation and some educational implications for teaching chemistry in Italy are also presented. (HM)

Describes the process dynamics and control program developed by the chemical engineering department at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Undergraduate and graduate control courses and real-time computing courses are included. (HM)

Discusses three research topics which are concerned with eminently practical problems and deal at the same time with fundamental fluid dynamical problems. These research topics come from the general areas of chemical and biological engineering, geophysics, and pure mathematics. (HM)