THIBODAUX 鈥� The Louisiana Board of Regents recently awarded six undergraduate enhancement grants to 果冻APP State University faculty members.
Dr. Earl Melancon, distinguished service professor of biological sciences, received $42,000 for his project titled 鈥淯pgrading Microscope Technology for Instructional Needs in Marine Biology and Invertebrate Zoology.鈥� The funds will secure the purchase of microscopes and audiovisual equipment for a sophomore level course 鈥� Biology 284, or Introduction to Marine Biology 鈥� and a junior level course 鈥� Biology 354, or Invertebrate Zoology.
A $34,884 grant was presented to Dr. Joelle Bonamy, assistant professor of Spanish, for an initiative titled 鈥淢oving Pictures, Culture, and Literature around Classrooms.鈥� The grant will fund three technology carts to aid in the instruction of culture in foreign language classrooms, assuring a learning environment that is intercultural and interactive.
Dr. Rajkumar Nathaniel, assistant professor of biological sciences, received $15,775 for a project titled 鈥淓nhancing Biology Laboratories Through E-Learning Tools.鈥� Grant funds will purchase biology laboratory instruction material in the form of high resolution digital video on media and streaming Web-based formats. Such material will be useful during hurricane outages, enabling students the opportunity to continue participation from off-campus locations.
Nathaniel received an additional $34,000 for an initiative titled 鈥淓nhancing Biology Laboratory Experiences for Freshmen鈥� 鈥� which will provide freshmen biology laboratories with basic equipment for instruction.
A $13,000 grant was awarded to April Dupre, instructor of chemistry, for a project titled 鈥淚mproving the Biological Relevance in Chemistry Laboratories.鈥� Grant funds will purchase a spectofluorometer instrument to increase the biological relevance of experiments performed in biochemistry, organic and analytical chemistry laboratories.
Finally, Dr. Aaron Pierce, assistant professor of biological sciences, received $28,317 for a project titled 鈥淓nhancing Biological Fieldwork Capabilities of the Department of Biological Sciences at 果冻APP State University鈥� 鈥� designed to enhance student fieldwork experiences by seeking funds to support wetland bird research and other fieldwork activities.