San Francisco, CA 16 February 2001 The Merck Company Foundation and the American Association for the Advancement of Science today announced the names of the 15 universities and colleges that have won awards under the newly expanded program to provide research experiences in chemistry and biology for undergraduate students.
"Each award is worth $20,000 a year for up to three years, and we expect the funds to be used to build bridges between two crucial areas of science -- chemistry and biology," said Shirley Malcom, head of Education and Human Resources at AAAS. "Liberal arts colleges have played a key role in developing leaders in the sciences, and that is why we focus on those institutions."
The purpose of the program is to enhance undergraduate biology and chemistry education through undergraduate research experiences that emphasize the relationship between these scientific fields and to encourage students to pursue graduate education. In addition to supporting the undergraduates research efforts, the awards may provide funding for symposia, lecture series and workshops.
The Merck/AAAS program was launched in 1993 and, until this year, was limited to 12 northeastern/mid-Atlantic states. In 2001, however, the program was opened up to institutions around the country. The Merck Company Foundation has agreed to continue funding 15 awards each year through 2009.
This years winners are California State University in Sacramento, CA; Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA; Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA; Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY; Hope College in Holland, MI; Oakland University in Rochester, MI; Saint John's University in Collegeville, MN; St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY; St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN; State University of New York College at Fredonia in Fredonia, NY; University of South Alabama in Mobile, AL; University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, TN; University of Wisconsin in Superior, WI
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Contact: Cate Alexander
calexand@aaas.org
202-326-6431
American Association for the Advancement of Science
15-Feb-2001