A Theme‐Based Seminar on Environmental Sustainability Improves Participant Satisfaction in an Undergraduate Summer Research Program

We analyzed seven years of pre‐program and post‐program survey data to evaluate the Clarkson University Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Site Program in Environmental Science and Engineering, and evaluated whether our program was successful at meeting the intended outcome of increasing participants' likelihood of attending graduate school and pursuing a career in science or engineering research or education. We also evaluated how participant satisfaction in the program changed with the addition of a weekly seminar on environmental sustainability that was intended to improve participants' understanding of the societal value of their research projects. Participant satisfaction in the Clarkson REU Program was high, and increased after the addition of the sustainability seminar. Participants' intention to attend graduate or professional school increased after participating in the program, but their intention to pursue a career in science or engineering research declined. Over 60 percent of participants eventually attended graduate or professional school.     

Learning Conceptual Knowledge in the Engineering Sciences: Overview and Future Research Directions

Learning conceptual knowledge in engineering science is a critical element in the development of competence and expertise in engineering. To date, however, research on conceptual learning in engineering science has been limited. Therefore, this article draws heavily on fundamental research by cognitive psychologists and applied research by science educators to provide a background on fundamental issues in the field and methods for assessing conceptual knowledge. Some of the most common conceptual difficulties from three domains: mechanics, thermal science and direct current electricity, are discussed to provide concrete examples of what students find difficult to learn. The article concludes with a discussion of possible sources of these difficulties, implications for instruction, and suggestions for future research.     

食品包装塑料制品中掺杂回收塑料的分析及 检测方法研究现状

随着高分子材料工业的飞速发展,塑料制品已广泛应用于食品包装行业,同时食品包装塑料制品中掺杂回收塑料的问题也日益严重。本文综述了食品包装塑料制品中掺杂回收塑料的分析及检测方法研究现状,重点讨论了红外光谱法、热分析法、分子量及其分布法、气相色谱-质谱联用法、机械性能法等分析方法的应用现状及可行性。同时对该领域的发展趋势进行了展望。     

基于DSP和DDS的方波信号源设计方案

高精度、稳定的方波信号源对仪器的研制、使用和检测具有重要作用。提出一种有效提升方波信号源精度和稳定度的设计方案。该方案利用DDS芯片产生基准方波信号并结合可编程和接口丰富的DSP芯片控制方波频率和调节方波占空比。由此方案可以设计出信号频率精确稳定,可灵活控制,及大范围精确调节占空比的高性能方波信号发生源。目前,该方案已应用于L625激光雷达时间延迟和脉冲发生器的研制。同样,该方案也可应用于其他需要高性能信号源的仪器设备。     

Biases in Interpersonal Communication: How Engineering Students Perceive Gender Typical Speech Acts in Teamwork

This research investigates differences in how engineering and non‐engineering men and women perceive common speech acts in team settings. Participants completed surveys asking them to rate the speakers of three male typical and three female typical speech acts. Male engineering students were significantly harsher than other groups on female typical speech acts in which the speaker conceded weaknesses, even if this concession was for strategic purposes such as trying to help another teammate “save face.” This bias against female typical speech was consistent regardless of the speaker's gender, suggesting that students were reacting to speech patterns rather than to biological gender. These findings provide hope that women may be able to help manage perceptions of their everyday team interactions by avoiding statements that imply weaknesses, even if such speech is normal in other situations.