NANOBIOGEOCHEMISTRY OF MICROBE/MINERAL INTERACTIONS

How does the nanoscale science of a mineral surface and biogeochemistry research lab translate to a high school curriculum? Five teachers from southwestern Virginia participated in a summer workshop in the Department of Geological Sciences at Virginia Tech with the objective of learning about microbe/mineral interactions at the nanoscale, and working with a team of faculty and graduate students to incorporate nanoscience in the high school classroom. Teachers from city, suburban, and rural schools who teach biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, and mathematics learned about nanoscience and its potential to address many environmental issues related to the microbe-mineral interface, such as contaminant remediation and bacterial transport in the subsurface. Teachers then generated and analyzed data from the atomic force microscope and a field emission electron microscope. Collectively the group of teachers and scientists distilled the important aspects of the workshop that might be applied to the teacher’s respective subject areas, and plans were made for extensive curricular development in the upcoming 4-year period.

This workshop is the first summer experience on this project. Anticipated outcomes during the next four years include specific classroom activities on nanoscience, research activities by teachers, and dissemination of curricular materials through a web site, professional presentations and a book.