About Us
ABOUT WE2NG
WE2NG is an NSF funded RET program where K-12 teachers will attend a full-time (40 hours/week) paid six week summer program at CSM engaging in research under the direction of faculty and graduate student mentors. The program will include an initial orientation session followed by an integrated research, learning, and curriculum format. Each week will include components of individual research time, on-going workshops (e.g., communicating science, nanotechnology), collaborative research meetings, connections with industry (e.g., speakers and field trips), and integrated curriculum development workshops. Another key part of the WE2NG program will be establishing long-term collaborative relationships with the participants by providing classroom support throughout the academic year.
  |
Dr. Terri Hogue, Program Director thogue@mines.edu |
  |
Amy Martin, Program Manager acmartin@mines.edu |
  |
Ashley Rust, Research Manager arust@mymail.mines.edu |
 |
Katie Schneider, Program Coordinator |
  |
Cassie Glenn, Administrative Assistant caungst@mines.edu |
As described in our strategic plan, NSF is the only federal agency whose mission includes support for all fields of fundamental science and engineering, except for medical sciences. NSF is tasked with keeping the United States at the leading edge of discovery in a wide range of scientific areas, from astronomy to geology to zoology. So, in addition to funding research in the traditional academic areas, the agency also supports “high risk, high pay off” ideas, novel collaborations and numerous projects that may seem like science fiction today, but which the public will take for granted tomorrow. And in every case, we ensure that research is fully integrated with education so that today’s revolutionary work will also be training tomorrow’s top scientists and engineers.”
NSFRET Site: Colorado School of Mines WE2NG: Water-Energy Education for the Next Generation
CSM Civil and Environmental Engineering Department (CEE)
CSM is a state research university supporting B.S. through Ph.D. degrees in engineering and science. The mission of CSM is “Education and research in engineering and science to solve the world’s challenges related to the earth, energy and the environment.” In support of this mission, the CEE department has built extensive faculty expertise and infrastructure in water and the environment. CEE has invested heavily in Research Centers, laboratories, and field sites, each with unique capabilities for a range of water-related research activities. Related centers include the ConocoPhillips Center for a Sustainable WE2ST, Dr. Terri Hogue, Director, the Center for Experimental Study of Subsurface Environmental Processes (CESEP), Dr. Tissa Illangasekare, Director, the Advanced Water Technology Center (AQWATEC), Dr. Tzahi Cath, Director, and the Center for Environmental Risk Assessment (CERA), Dr. Christopher Higgins, Director. The CEE department is also part of the NSF Engineering Research Center, ReNUWIt which is in collaboration with the University of California at Berkeley, New Mexico State University, and Stanford University.
Each week RET participants will engage in an industry experience with one of our industry collaborators. Experiences will include speakers, site visits, and tours. All industry partners have multiple projects and sites relevant to water and energy (e.g., water treatment plant, hydropower project, dam construction, well pad/drill site). These opportunities to see “engineering in action” will allow the participants to understand how research translates to industry. Interaction with personnel from industry will also give insight into various STEM careers and how to best prepare students for these careers.
