NSF RET Site on Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure for Urban Communities

P.I.: Dr. Yazdani

The UTA RET site will advance knowledge within and across engineering disciplines (civil, electrical, industrial), physics, education / assessment, and unique challenges of sustainable and resilient urban infrastructure, by finding solutions for critical issues. A total of 12 STEM in-service and pre-service teachers from area high schools will participate in a 6-week summer program at UTA. Partner ISDs are Arlington, Duncanville, Everman, Grand Prairie, Irving, Kennedale, and Mansfield. The overall objective is to engage teachers in hands-on summer research experiences with faculty and student teams, enhancing their ability to teach curricula enhanced with engineering topics with the long-term aim of increasing student interest in and pursuit of engineering degrees/careers. The specific objectives are to enhance:

• Teachers’ ability to incorporate engineering topics into their course curricula, thereby enhancing student engagement in learning.
• Teachers’ professional development.
• Teachers’ and ISDs’ long-term networking with UTA, other ISDs and engineering professionals.
• Students’ perceptions of and interest in engineering majors and careers.