Excellence in Engagement Grants
"Excellence in Engagement" is an internal MSU grant program established to support collaboration between interdisciplinary teams of MSU faculty and local communities around the State. It is envisioned that faculty will build upon their current academic/research efforts by establishing innovative, creative, scholarly outreach/engagement initiatives that will give the university recognition within the state, region and nation for its partnerships with communities.
Proposals Funded in January 2008
Rail Service Authority Planning and Implementation
The rail service authority planning and implementation for continued revitalization efforts and logistics relief in central Mississippi project will extend original research completed in August 2007 regarding the feasibility of revitalizing a closed rail system. The project's intent is to assist in the organization and implementation of a regional rail authority to facilitate asset transfer from the C&G Railroad to the rail authority, continue research on the economic feasibility of opening the closed corridor, and determine the impact of the revitalization on logistic infrastructure in central Mississippi.
For more information contact project manager, Bill Martin, e-mail.
Home Grown Talent
The "Home Grown Talent" project will build relationships between schools, business and industry, students and the university to create win-win situations for all. The project directors will work with students to assist them in identifying possible careers and also introduce them to future employment opportunities in their home towns. In building relationships that include the area employers and economic development officials the goal is to encourage students to return home with meaningful career opportunities. The premise is that creating these links early in a student's college career that we help them be more successful.
For more information contact project manager, Scott Maynard, MSU Career Center, e-mail.
Proposals Funded in January 2007
Studio School Phase II - Abstract
The Studio School Phase II: Community Development Project (SS Phase II) partners with MSU's College of Education, School of Architecture, College of Forest Products, and College of Engineering with the Starkville School District, the Oktibbeha County School District, and our local communities in an effort to address our local middle and high school drop out problems. SS Phase II is a seed project created to engage university and local communities in working together to develop a relationship and thereafter a curriculum for a concept school called Studio School. Following SS Phase II when full funding is obtained, Studio School, will become a Studio Based Learning (SBL) for students identified by teachers as exhibiting high-risk characteristics generally classified as potential middle or high school drop outs. The two primary outcomes of SS Phase II are 1) deeper engagement in community-university partnerships for the good of our local schools and 2) the development of a dynamic, one-of-a-kind, SBL for middle and high school learners.
For more information contact: Kay Brocato, Assistant Professor, College of Education, e-mail.
Mission Eggcellence - Overview
The Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS) at MSU is teaming with the Mississippi Children's Museum in Jackson, Mississippi (breaking ground in 2007) to develop a sophisticated science & technology area in the museum to inspire young minds to explore the worlds of math, science, and engineering. We will create powerful interactive learning/teaching kids for K-12 students with a program based upon materials design, which will be supported by the American Society of Metals (ASM). We already have an ASM supported program in development entitled Mission Eggcellence. It is worth explaining the Mission Eggcellence notion future as illustrative of our other ideas. Mission Eggcellence provides student with a hands-on introduction into vehicular crashworthiness through applying basic concepts of physics, explanations of what actually happens during a crash, and examples of safety devices. Other explanations provided will include manufacturer goals versus consumer goals and the difficulties of balancing these requirements. Vehicles, materials, eggs, workbooks/worksheets, and instruction will be provided to the students, with which they must design a safety barrier for each team's vehicle that will prevent the egg from breaking upon impact during an impact competition.
For more information contact: Mark Horstemeyer, CAVS Chair Professor in computational solid mechanics, e-mail.
