The students, sophomores and juniors, are studying the polymers by charting their structure and properties. By doing so, the team hopes to contribute to the increasingly important field of nanotechnology, the science of extremely small-scale structures. It's challenging work for undergraduates, who don't often get the chance to engage in this type of extended research. The project is one example of the work being done as part of the Windows on Research and Scholarship program, the newest component of the university's undergraduate advising system.
Students earn a half-credit for the courses.
The hands-on partnerships let students explore subjects they may want to major in and also build relationships with their advisers. In traditional advising, you get students from a variety of majors who might not be particularly interested in science. I had no reason to see them in class or any time other than when they needed a signature. Windows started as a pilot program in 1997-98, said Dean of Advising Christopher A. Nwabeke. This year, there are 132 students enrolled under the guidance of 14 faculty members in disciplines as diverse as philosophy, English and mechanical engineering.