Discusses the mechanics of how an actual oil reservoir works and provides some technical background in physics. An experiment which simulates an oil reservoir and demonstrates quantitatively all the basic concepts of oil reservoir rock properties is also presented. (HM)

Lists directories of American organizations which employ a large number of chemists and chemical engineers. This column in the journal is designed to acquaint scientific personnel with information to begin or change careers. (SA)

Presents synopses of five papers presented at a conference of the Science Teachers of Australia. Topics include the technology of wine making, integrated science, individualized science instruction, formal operational thinking, and deep ocean drilling. (MLH)

Cites statistics on undergraduate and graduate study in chemistry and chemical engineering at higher education institutions approved by the American Chemical Society. (MLH)

The Illinois Institute of Technology is making engineering more accessible to women, blacks, and other minorities and searches high schools for likely candidates. (Editor)

Describes studies that utilized questionnaires and interviews to explore the factors affecting the career choices of students. Reveals differences between scientists and nonscientists with regard to their preferred learning styles and relates these differences to career choice and self-perception. (DDR)

Explains a component of an introductory genetics course that exposes students to bioethical issues and the social responsibilities of scientists. Students engage in discussion in an interdisciplinary format. (DDR)

Describes a study that investigated the role of a design context for developing children's understanding of science as the construction and revision of models. Results indicate that as early as the first grade, children's model-evaluation skills may be quite amenable to development. (DDR)

Describes the use of three questionnaires in assessing how students learn. Results of the study process questionnaire, the course experience questionnaire, and the learning style inventory indicate that lecturers need to change their teaching paradigm to one where the lecturer is closely involved in the learning context. (DDR)

Highlights repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) and vision problems related to computer use. Discusses ergonomics, design faults and needs of equipment, and ways to make adjustments. Provides tips for safe computer use. (AEF)

Describes the successive stages of the School of Aeronautical Engineering of Madrid, Spain, in terms of entry requirements, curricula guidelines, options or specialties, duration of studies, and number of graduates. Also includes a description of the Spanish aeronautical industry and its evolution. (Author/PVD)

Presents a method, based on a human factors approach, for helping individuals choose training in a new text technology that suits them. Offers a self-assessment questionnaire ranking preferences among firms, industries, techniques, roles, purposes for writing; then matches those preferences to typical expectations for each of several new text…

Discusses user participation and participatory design in the context of formal education for computing professionals. Topics include the current curriculum debate; mathematical- and engineering-based education; traditional system-development training; and an example of a course program that includes computers and society, and prototyping. (53…

Describes the use of portfolios, which include student test scores, GPAs, samples of class work, and student surveys, as tools for assessing student ability and success at the Colorado School of Mines. Discusses the strengths and weaknesses of portfolio assessment as well as instructional and institutional changes brought about by the evaluation…

Explains an approach to teaching dimensional analysis that differs slightly from the traditional approach. The difference lies in the novelty of exposition in the presentation and interpretation of dimensional analysis as a speculative process. (DDR)