AEOC

Argonne Education Outreach Council (AEOC)

UChicago Argonne, LLC, has established the Council on Education and Outreach to be a focal point for a number of initiatives within Argonne's Educational Programs. These initiatives will benefit science and educational programs not only at the Laboratory but also throughout the region and the country.

AEOC

Members of the council will consist of faculty and management from the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at Chicago, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Northwestern University, and Jacobs Engineering Group. The Council will be chaired by the Director of Argonne's Educational Programs and co-chaired by the Director of Operations and Education Programs in the University of Chicago's Office of the Vice President for Research and National Laboratories.

The Council will focus on identifying special grants for science and engineering projects, increasing funding from new sponsors, establishing an endowment for the Council, bringing additional students into science and engineering, and attracting people from underrepresented groups to careers in science and technology.

Each university and corporate entity associated with the UChicago Argonne, LLC, has committed funds to education and outreach, which will allow Argonne to increase the scope of its outreach activities and enhance the strength of its existing educational program.

AEOC Charter

Council on Education and Outreach UChicago/Argonne LLC

The UChicago/Argonne LLC has established a Council on Education Outreach to be a focal point for a number of initiatives with Argonne's Educational Programs. These initiatives will benefit science and educational programs not only at the Laboratory but also throughout the region and country. Members of the Council will consist of faculty and/or management from the University of Chicago, University of Illinois-Chicago, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, Northwestern University, and Jacobs Engineering. The Council will be chaired by the Manager of Educational Programs at Argonne National Laboratory and Co-Chaired by the Director, Operations and Education Programs, Office of the VP for Research and National Labs of the University of Chicago.

The objectives of the committee will be to focus efforts to identify special grants for science and engineering projects; attempt to increase funds from new sponsors; establish an endowment for the Council on Education and Outreach; bring additional students into science and engineering fields; and attract people from underrepresented groups to careers in science and technology.

Each university and corporate entity of the UChicago/Argonne LLC has committed funds to education and outreach. These funds will allow Argonne to increase the scope of its outreach activities and enhance the strength of its existing education program.

AEOC Council Members

Andrew Skipor, Chair Manager, Educational Programs Argonne National Laboratory http://www.dep.anl.gov	Michelle D. Terry, Co-Chair Director, Operations and Education Programs Office of the Vice-President for Research and for National Laboratories The University of Chicago http://www.uchicago.edu/research/bio_terry.shtml
Ka Yee C. Lee Professor of Chemistry The University of Chicago http://chemistry.uchicago.edu/fac/lee.shtml	Kenneth R. Poeppelmeier Professor of Chemistry Northwestern University http://www.chem.northwestern.edu/faculty/details?assetID=1444

AEOC Activities

Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (IGED)

This event, held in conjunction with National Engineers Week, is an opportunity for middle school girls (6th-8th grades) to learn about the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers and interact with working women scientists and engineers.

Research shows that young women lose interest in subjects leading to engineering and science careers long before they enter college. The lack of women role models in the media and in real life contributes to this trend. IGED was specifically conceived to reverse this situation by reaching out to girls with positive messages about math and science education.

Each girl is paired with a female engineer or scientist who mentors her throughout the event's large- and small-group activities. This very personal approach allows girls to get a glimpse into careers they may not have previously considered. Our experiences over the past eight years show that students gain the following:

Positive, real-life examples of women in engineering and science.
Answers to questions like "Why do I have to learn this?" and "Would I want to make engineering a career?"
Insight into a job in engineering - not only job characteristics and responsibilities but also what an engineering profession requires on a day-to-day basis - from actual female engineers.
A certain comfort level that comes from meeting other women - young and old - who are smart, talented, and interested in science.

Science Essay Contest - Chicago Public Schools

Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C²ST)
Argonne Education Outreach Council (AEOC)

Mentoring Programs

Evanston Middle School
The University of Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

AEOC Support to Schools to Conduct Science Fair Projects

Campus Middle School for Girls, Urbana
CPS Area 15, Chicago
Curie High School, Chicago
District 65, Evanston
Keller Regional Gifted Center, Chicago
Marine Military Academy, Chicago

Pre-College Research Participation Program (Internship)

A program designed for seniors who have completed their senior year in high school and are university bound. This eight week program supported through the AEOC focuses on students entering The University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, or Northwestern University with the intention of majoring in science and engineering.

Pre-Service Teacher Program (Internship)

The purpose of the Pre-service Teacher Program is to give future science, math, and technology teachers experience and understanding of the research process, i.e., to work closely with a staff scientist on a real project. A formal scientific paper is required on some element of this research at the end of the ten-week period. Both "bench" and library research are major requirements of the research paper. A formal PowerPoint presentation will be required of each participant during the last week of the appointment.

Another major goal of the program is to transfer this experience into a useable lesson plan or idea journal for teaching at a particular grade level. Elements of inquiry-centered learning and best practice will be interwoven into the weekly experiences and serve as a broad foundation for this development. Argonne's master teacher will be working very closely with participants and supporting them in both group and one-to-one sessions. Each year the program has received many positive testimonials and high ratings from participants due in part to the master teachers mentoring efforts.

Undergraduate Internships

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, a major research center, is pleased to announce opportunities for college and university undergraduate students to participate in the Laboratory's ongoing research programs. At Argonne, college/university students may obtain research experience through internships supported by the AEOC.

A student will generally spend the first week of his/her Argonne experience with an Argonne staff member devising a research strategy and attending mandatory safety classes. For the next few weeks, the supervisor will provide considerable program assistance and guidance. Subsequently, the student will be expected to complete a research abstract and submit a final research report.

AEOC Funded Programs

2011 Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship Program (SULI)
University	Argonne Division
University of Illinois-Urbana (2 students)	Nuclear Engineering Division
University of Illinois-Urbana	Energy System Division
University of Illinois-Urbana	Educational Programs
University of Illinois-Urbana	Materials Science Division
University of Illinois-Chicago	Energy Systems Division
University of Chicago	X-Ray Science Division
Northwestern University	Energy Systems Division

2011 Pre-College Research Participation Program (PCP)
High School	Argonne Division
Downers Grove North High School	Nuclear Engineering Division

2010 Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship Program (SULI)
University	Argonne Division
Northwestern University	Biosciences Division
(2 students)	Energy Systems Division
University of Chicago	X-Ray Science Division
University of Illinois-Chicago	Environmental Science Division
(2 students)	High Energy Physics Division
University of Illinois-Urbana	Energy Systems Division
(2 students)	Environmental Science Division

2010 Pre-College Research Participation Program (PCP)
High School	Argonne Division
Buffalo Grove High School	Environmental Science Division
Marmion Academy	Biosciences Division
Naperville North High School	Materials Science Division
Niles West High School	Materials Science Division
Palatine High School	Facilities Management & Services Division
Plainfield North High School	Biosciences Division
Resurrection High School	Facilities Management & Services Division
York Community High School	Environmental Science Division

The Pinnacle of Education Award

The University of Chicago has added a new award to its program, the Pinnacle of Education Award. This award was created to recognize an individual for his/her leadership in science through the Educational Programs.

Award Winners

2011	Giselle Sandi-Tapia of the Chemical Sciences & Engineering Division, and Deon Ettinger, Kathleen Greenawalt, David Kupperman and Patricia Zriny of the Communications, Education, and Public Affairs Division for their dedication in fostering a culture of education that extends beyond the laboratory.
2010	Walter Deitrich and Joe Braun of the Nuclear Engineering Division. They have worked with Educational Programs, the State Department, and the International Atomic Energy Agency in providing training courses in the field of Nuclear Safety and Nuclear Energy.
2009	Deborah E. R. Quock, Computer Scientist, Advanced Photon Source Engineering Support. Establishing the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day Program at Argonne
2008	Gian P. Felcher, Senior Scientist (emeritus), Materials Science Division, and Dennis M. Mills, Deputy Associate Laboratory Director, Photon Sciences. Establishing the Neutron and X-ray Scattering School for graduate students
2007	Marion C. Thurnauer, Senior Scientist (emeritus), Chemistry Division. Establishing the Science Careers in Search of Women Conference