Denice D. Denton - US grants

This is a Presidential Young Investigator award. The subject of this research is the development of a relative humidity sensor based on the permittivity properties of polyimide (PI). Emphasis on the development of this sensor will be on reliability and lifetime, particularly in hostile environments. Empirical evidence indicates that prolonged condensation of water on the PI surface leads to device failure. This research will seek to characterize the expected changes in surface chemistry that may lead to reliability and aging problems. Also, the mechanical properties of PI will be characterized, particularly the thermal coefficient of expansion and swelling due to moisture, with the aim of specifying structures with reduced stress levels and greater reliability.

An interdisciplinary research team consisting of electrical and mechanical engineers will carry out fundamental research directed toward an improved understanding of processing technology for the fabrication of microelectromechanical devices. This research will use synchrotron based x-ray lithography in connection with 25 micron PMMA (poly methyl methacrylate) photoresist layers and fine-grained polysilicon mask blanks with optically defined absorber patterns made from one micron thick electroplated gold layers. The thick photoresist will be exposed on Aladdin, the Wisconsin synchrotron, and subsequent developing will produce vertical flank PMMA profiles with one micron minimum feature sizes. These structures will then be electroplated to provide micromechanical devices made from the materials used to electroplate the silicon. Additionally, research in plating will be aimed at creating deposits with repeatable and controlled mechanical properties and will focus on nickel, gold, cobalt-nickel, and silver-palladium alloys. The nickel- cobalt alloys are intended for bearing surfaces in microelectro- mechanical devices. The silver alloys address contact welding problems in microswitch applications. The proposed process is fundamental to micromechanics and, in particular, lends itself to actuator construction such as miniature gears and acceleration driven switches, in addition to numerous other potential applications.

The objective of this work is to develop the materials and processing capabilities required to fabricate an optical micro-switch for fiber optic networks. The switch consists of a polymer channel waveguide fabricated on a cantilevered micromechanical beam. This beam can be coupled to one of the two stationary polymer guides using an electrostatic comb drive. All three polymer guides are coupled to fiber pigtails via V-groove alignment. The use of polymer waveguides instead of fibers drastically reduces the reduces the required motion for alignment (and therefore the required switching power). Micromechanics, in addition to producing the switching action, makes fiber alignment and packaging relatively straightforward. Fabrication of such a device will require the marriage of high aspect ratio x-ray lithography fabrication and polymer processing. The micromechanical switch is fabricated in metal because of its superior mechanical properities. The optical waveguides are fabricated using polymers whose optical properties can be tailored for a variety of applications. The materials challenges to be addressed include the tailoring of the mechanical properties of electroplated metal films, the control of the optical properties of polymers, and the understanding of the long term reliability of the materials used. This device represents a synthesis of polymer, x-ray lithographic, and micromechanical processing. The materials and processes developed for this work will be useful for a wide array of applications in solid state circuits, sensors and actuators, and photonics.

The University of Washington (UW) has a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to identify and institutionalize successful practices employed by DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology). Implementation of the Institutionalization of DO-IT project will increase the success of people with disabilities in academic programs and careers in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (SMET). In 1992 the UW was awarded a three-year grant from NSF to undertake activities to recruit and retain students with disabilities in SMET. The project was titled DO-IT. In 1995 another three-year grant, called DO-IT Extension, was received from NSF to continue and expand DO-IT activities. Grants to extend DO-IT efforts have also been received from the Telecommunications Funding Partnership, the NEC Foundation of America, the Seattle Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, Honda, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science and Technology Council, Washington Services for the Blind, and U.S. West Communications. DO-IT helps: children and youth with disabilities learn strategies for participation in SMET and how to access computers and the Internet using adaptive technology. high school students with disabilities transition to college and careers in SMET. SMET faculty become more receptive and capable of including students with disabilities in their courses. campus SMET programs become more accessible to individuals with disabilities. library staff and administrators understand how to make their electronic resources accessible to patrons with disabilities. camp directors learn how to incorporate Internet activities into their curriculum and accommodate campers with disabilities. adult students and professionals with disabilities mentor students with disabilities. parents, service providers, and the pu blic become more aware of the potential contributions and special needs of students with disabilities in SMET fields. identify factors leading to college completion and employment in SMET. Specific DO-IT activities have included: summer study programs which allow high school students with disabilities to explore SMET fields and develop college and career transition skills and strategies. a mentoring program that matches high school students with disabilities with successful role models in SMET academic programs and careers. Internet communication and information retrieval for students with disabilities. an electronic community for those interested in SMET and disability-related issues. disability awareness presentations to faculty and staff. college transition, library access, Web page design, and adaptive technology workshops. dissemination of program and disability-related information through electronic resources, printed materials, and videotapes. The Institutionalization of DO-IT project follows logically from DO-IT's previous activities. It will continue efforts to empower individuals with disabilities, make SMET programs and careers more accessible, and explore strategies and implement activities to institutionalize successful practices nationwide. Project strategies will include seeking state, Federal, corporate, and private funding and sponsorship; selling project products; and incorporating practices into existing services and publications at the UW and elsewhere.

The major goals of this GK-12 project, Partnership for Research in Inquiry-based MSE Education (PRIME), are to enhance learning among middle school students, teachers, and GK-12 Fellows in math, science, and engineering (MSE); enhance the diversity of the MSE workforce; and develop a cadre of scientists and engineers who will enter the workforce ready, willing, and able to continuously improve the quality of K-12 education in the next century. PRIME is a partnership among five Seattle-area school districts; three NSF Local Systemic Initiatives; and fifteen academic departments in mathematics, science, and engineering, faculty in the College of Education and four diversity programs at the University of Washington in Seattle. PRIME's conceptual focus is inquiry-based MSE education in middle school settings with diverse student and teacher populations. Of 22,585 middle school students potentially affected by PRIME, nearly one-fifth (19%) are African American, Native American, or Hispanic. A summer learning sciences institute prepares PRIME Fellows to engage in partnerships with middle school teachers and students in MSE. This institute focuses on middle school learning and teaching, assessment practices, classroom instruction, and diversity. The institute prepares the Fellows to engage in sustained partnerships with classroom teachers. Fellows provide their disciplinary expertise to enhance classroom learning opportunities while also developing an increased understanding of pedagogy and diversity. The partnerships focus their efforts on the adaptation and localization of exemplary curricular materials. PRIME studies these sustained partnerships and disseminates the products of their efforts through annual regional showcases for teachers.

The goal of this project is to contribute to the development of a national science and engineering academic workforce that includes the full participation of women in all levels of faculty and academic administration, particularly at the senior academic ranks, through the transformation of institutional practices, policies, climate and culture. The University of Washington (UW) recognizes the important contributions that women make in science, engineering, and mathematics (SEM), and the factors that still inhibit women's full participation. The University proposes to create the Center for Institutional Change (CIC) to design and implement programs to help eliminate obstacles to women's full participation and advancement in the SEM disciplines. Many of these challenges occur in departments, so changing departmental culture will be a part of the CIC mission.

The CIC will focus on these issues in SEM on campus:

Leadership development for chairs and deans
Department cultural change
Policy change
Leadership development
Short-term support program for faculty in times of transition

The work of the CIC will seve all groups (men, women, underrepresented) and improve the environment for everyone in SEM. UW will share its experiences with other institutions, professional societies, and industrial partners that are addressing the issues of low representation of women faculty in engineering and science. A network will be established to facilitate dissemination, and UW will work with Boeing, Weyerhaeuser, CH2M Hill, and REI to share best practices.

This project is supported by the NSF ADVANCE Program. The overall mission of the ADVANCE Program is to increase the participation of women in the scientific and engineering workforce through the increased representation and advancement of women in academic science and engineering careers.

0125122
Kalonji

This award is to the University of Washington to support the activity described below for 36 months. The proposal was submitted in response to the Partnerships for Innovation Program Solicitation (NSF 0179).

Partners
The partners for the award include the University of Washington (Lead Institution), Washington State Office of Economic Development, Washington State China Relations Council, Northwest Environmental Business Council, Earth Tech, Inc., and Hart Crowser, Inc.

Proposed Activities
The proposed effort has the following goals: (1) create new team-based approaches for faculty, students, government and industry partners to collaborate on international research and education, (2) translate the work of these teams into products, systems, and services, (3) produce a scientific and engineering workforce to work in an international marketplace. Teams of faculty and students from the University of Washington and Sichuan University in Chengdu, China will be working collaboratively on water resource management, waste water treatment, forest ecology, environmentally-friendly materials processing, biodiversity, and the impact of humans on the ecology.

Proposed Innovation
The focus of the project is on building sustainable relationships for research-education-economic development. Innovation outcomes include creation of a workforce to participate in the emerging Chinese market, creation of the opportunities for small businesses to participate in academic research and to gain access to new international business opportunities, increase trade with China for Washington, and "internationalization" of some of the faculty at the University of Washington.

Potential Economic Impact
The major economic impact will be the expanded opportunities for Washington State business with markets in China.

Potential Societal Impact
The Pacific Rim could be a very large market for the United States over the foreseeable future. Preparation of a workforce to participate in this market is vital to the citizens of the US in general and especially the West Coast. Asians have already trained a workforce, and the US is behind. This effort will provide the workforce to open trade for small business in China.

Abstract

The University of Washington (UW) requests funding for the Northwest Alliance for Access
to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to increase the quantity and
quality of people with disabilities in STEM careers.
Intellectual Merit and Qualifications of Partners
The lead agency is the UW's award-winning DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking
and Technology) program, which has conducted successful NSF PPD projects since 1992.
Regional site teams at the two largest STEM research institutions in the State of Washington, the
UW and Washington State University (WSU), will collaborate with K-12 and postsecondary
schools, employers, and leading STEM research institutions in neighboring states - the
University of Idaho, the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, and the University of
Alaska in Anchorage and Fairbanks. The project will partner with ENTRY POINT! to place STEM
postsecondary students with disabilities in paid internships. It will collaborate with MESA
(Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) adapting for students with disabilities the
hands-on science activities and teacher training strategies it uses with racial/ethnic minority and
female students. The Alliance builds on established collaborations and brings together practices
that have proven successful individually, to create a unique, comprehensive set of interventions.
Objectives and examples of interventions include:
1. The Northwest Alliance will increase the number of students with disabilities pursuing
STEM academic programs and careers. Interventions: Motivational college/career transition
and STEM fairs for precollege students and STEM academic/career activities for college
students that identify participants for the AccessSTEM Team in objective 2 interventions.
2. The Alliance will provide on-going support and encourage high school and college
students with disabilities who show interest and aptitude in STEM with peer and
mentor interaction, work experiences, and other activities as they transition to college,
graduate school, and employment. Interventions: Students join the AccessSTEM Team to
engage in an on-line community, mentoring, fields trips, research, paid internships, and other
activities to assure their success in STEM careers and promote the success of others.
3. The Alliance will provide precollege educators and staff with strategies, tools and
support to create more inclusive programs for students with disabilities, where they are
encouraged to pursue STEM studies and careers. Interventions: Training and curriculum
materials through established networks of MESA, Educational Services Districts, teacher
training programs, and professional organizations; provide educators with opportunities to
work with students who have disabilities.
4. The Alliance will help STEM postsecondary faculty, support staff, counselors, and
employers fully include students with disabilities in their courses and programs and create
accessible facilities and electronic resources. Interventions: Opportunities for faculty to
receive training and work with students with disabilities in research; assistance in making
facilities, equipment, distance learning, and Web pages accessible.
Each intervention is associated with measurables that provide evidence of effectiveness. The
National Center on Postsecondary Educational Supports (NCSPES) will evaluate project
outcomes and impacts, conduct research on factors that promote success for students with
disabilities, describe replication models, and help disseminate results.
Broader Impacts Resulting from the Northwest Alliance
Collaborations with MESA and other programs will broaden the participation of racial/ethnic
minorities and females with disabilities in STEM. Wide distribution of a replication model, curriculum
materials, and other project products and creation of a searchable Knowledge Base on the project
Web site will enhance scientific and technological understanding and maximize project impact.
Project outcomes will benefit society by making STEM opportunities available to all citizens and
increasing the number of STEM professionals and leaders who have disabilities.

HRD 03-28486
Dr. Denton, currently Dean of Engineering at the University of Washington, has a long history and a strong, national reputation in traditional and peer mentoring of students, and in the development of long-term mentoring programs, including special courses and workshops. Denton's mentoring efforts have involved students at all levels -- from K-12 to undergraduate and graduate students. She also works with her peers -- women and minority junior faculty, senior faculty and administrators. She has been very effective in helping them advance in their careers and in encouraging them to also become mentors. Her diverse methods also have been effective.

In addition to developing programs and being a hands-on mentor, she has utilized her research, publications and presentations to reach and inspire other mentors and potential mentors on a national level. Dr. Denton has extensive experience and deep commitment to groups that are underrepresented in science and engineering at age levels at which the need for support is the greatest. She has created science and engineering projects for K-12 students and has worked with them on those projects; she has mentored college students of color as well as students with disabilities, although with slightly less impact, quantitatively, than for women.