Innovations in Educational Spectroscopy
Background
Advances in electro-optics continue to transform
the way we sense our world. High-speed array detectors, inexpensive optical fibers and
powerful computers have made optical spectroscopy the sensing technique of
choice for many real-world applications.
The development and marketing of scientific instruments and methods
have changed
in an equally dramatic way. In the past, cutting-edge instrumentation
started with expensive research devices that were accessible only to
well-funded research and development enterprises. Gradually, the technologies filtered into
general laboratory use, application-specific instruments and, eventually, into educational settings.
In contrast, recent breakthroughs in
optical sensing have resulted from efforts to develop low-cost
devices for mass markets for imaging equipment, telecommunications and
computers.
A spin-off benefit from these mass-market technologies is the
development of cutting-edge, low-cost, powerful analytical equipment, such
as Ocean Optics CHEM4000-series Spectrophotometers.
A single
CHEM-series Spectrophotometer operating for 26 days will acquire as much data as all
the Spectronic 20s and other single-wavelength spectrophotometers have
acquired in
the last 30 years. What's more, the new generation of electro-optic
instruments is computer-based, easily networked and transparently
integrated with scientific and business-oriented software products.
In many ways, advances in sensing
technology hardware have quickly surpassed our capacity for adapting and
applying these new tools. New technologies deliver high performance and
great power, but also require substantially better-educated users. Why?
The new technologies are modular, flexible and highly integrated. We (the
equipment manufacturers) supply the engineering, while you (the user) supply the
science.
It is important that today's science and engineering students
appreciate the capabilities of optical sensing, the fundamental physics of
the measurement process, the design trade-offs inherent in selecting and
integrating components, and the discipline required to produce quality
results.
About the
Program
The Innovations in Educational
Spectroscopy Grant Program from Ocean Optics provides resources to public and private teaching institutions.
The program strives to promote the use of spectroscopy as a
general-purpose, broad-based measurement tool, and to enable the use of
state-of-the-art instrumentation and technology in science and engineering
curricula.
In the program's history, Ocean Optics has awarded
more than $1.5 million to high schools and universities for funding such spectroscopic applications as:
-
Measuring the photoluminescence of polymers
-
Detecting emission lines for various gas discharge tubes
-
Recording absorption lines from bright nebulae
-
Studying plant physiology
Ocean Optics offers several
options:
Cost sharing on proposals for extramural
funds for purchasing science equipment
Ocean Optics offers cost-sharing
support for proposals to federal, state or private institutions for the
express purpose of purchasing Ocean Optics products to be used
in science or engineering teaching. Cost sharing will vary according to
the product. There is
no limit to the total cost-sharing amount.
Cost sharing for purchasing science
equipment to develop science and engineering curricula
Ocean Optics offers cost sharing to
purchase Ocean
Optics products to be used expressly for developing new science and
engineering curricula. Cost sharing will vary according to the product. Funding may come from
any source, including an organization's internal funds; however, awards
will be granted based on the strength of the applicant's technical
proposal and the uniqueness of the proposed curricula. The
developed materials must be made available for publication at OceanOptics.com, so that
other educators may have free and unrestricted access to the information.
Grant Application
Guidelines
All grant applicants must complete
an Educational Grant Application.
Submit completed applications to:
Ocean Optics Educational Products Division
830 Douglas Avenue
Dunedin, FL 34698
or by Fax: 727.733.3962
Eligibility
Grants are available to any non-profit
educational institution located in the United States. Foreign institutions
may be considered but should contact Ocean Optics before submitting an
application. Grant applications must
be signed by the submitting instructor (or principal investigator) and an
authorized official of the institution. The submitting instructor should
be a full-time (>50%) employee of the institution.
Awardees of Ocean Optics Grants are required to
maintain a
Total Technical Services contract on
the equipment obtained through the grant program. This ensures that the
equipment made available is fully supported by Ocean Optics’ technical
team, kept in top working condition and are continually used in the
learning environment without interruption.
Questions?
Applicants are encouraged to contact Ocean
Optics regarding any aspect of the grant program. For questions regarding
eligibility, cost-sharing amounts, procedures and administrative details,
please contact:
Ocean Optics, Inc. Educational Products Division
830 Douglas Avenue
Dunedin, FL 34698
727.733.2447
Fax 727.733.3962
Education@oceanoptics.com
Additional Funding Sources
Information on grants available through the National Science Foundation is
available at the NSF's
Division
of Undergraduate Education Web site.
The
Napa
Valley Unified Education Foundation is a non-profit organization, comprised
of private citizens dedicated to enhancing the quality of education. The
Foundation was started in 1983 and has raised over $850,000 benefiting students
throughout the Napa Valley Unified School District
The
National
Science Foundation funds research and education in science and engineering.
It does this through grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements to more than
2,000 colleges, universities, and other research and/or education institutions
in all parts of the United States.
The
Spectroscopy
Society of Pittsburgh (SSP) contributes grants to the science programs of
small colleges and universities (enrollment of no more than 7500 students).
Grants are capped at $6000, and the funding is to be used toward the acquisition
and/or upgrade of spectroscopy equipment or accessories. Consult the SSP
website for geographical restrictions on awards.
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