BELIZE
Dr. Somnath Dutta, Assistant Professor of Chemistry.
Dr. Dutta’s project focuses on monitoring the levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in both the local Maumee Watershed and various sites throughout the New River Lagoon Watershed in Belize. Assessing levels of PAHs, which are generated by incomplete combustion of organic matter, in both soil and water is critical to long-term environmental monitoring. Thus this project will more specifically continue the water quality analysis that has been conducted through McMaster initiatives for the past 3 years in Belize. (Tenzer 101A; ext. 2428; sdutta@defiance.edu)
Professor Mary Ann Studer, Assistant Professor of Physical Science.
Professor Studer’s research will focus on the analysis of macro and micro nutrients in the agricultural fields of indigenous farmers on the periphery of the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area. In addition, Studer will explore the compilation of three years of soil testing to ascertain trends in nutrient levels for specific fields in an effort to promote more effective farming practices. The second focus of Prof. Studer’s project is to compile a feasibility study on the installation of a solar grid to provide electricity to the school in San Carlos, an agricultural village on the New River Lagoon, Belize. (Tenzer 203; ext 2555; or McMaster Office, Pilgrim Library 128; ext 2553; mstuder@defiance.edu)
CAMBODIA
Dr. Jo Ann Burkhardt, Associate Professor of Education.
Dr. Burkhardt will continue the work begun with under- trained teachers in Cambodia during the past three years. For the 2007-08 academic year, in response to the needs assessment conducted in 2006-07, Dr. Burkhardt will be developing teacher training materials and training in the area of K-8 life science instruction, pre-algebra and algebra skills, and general instructional strategies for in-service teachers in the schools at Ba Prey and Prekk Royea. These materials, translated into Khmer, provided by the McMaster School, appear to be the only Khmer materials available to in-service teachers pertaining to pedagogy, theory and applied practice. (Defiance 125; ext.2315; jburkhardt@defiance.edu)
Dr. Nathan Griggs, Assistant Professor of Microbiology.
Dr. Grigg’s project has a 3-fold aim. First, Dr. Griggs will initiate a critical needs assessment of health care in the rural Cambodian communities. Second, he plans to continue the development of training materials in Khmer for the healthcare workers in rural Cambodia. Finally Dr. Griggs plans to collect baseline epidemiological data in rural Cambodia to evaluate the long term impact of the McMaster School for Advancing Humanity on this community. (Rowe 211; ext. 2592; ngrigs@defiance.edu)
Professor Jeffrey Weaner, Professor of Social Work and Sociology.
The purpose of Prof. Weaner’s proposal is to continue the work begun in previous years with the Cambodian Women’s Crisis Center. This year Prof. Weaner will focus on the development of a comprehensive evaluation that will identify through extensive interviewing, the effectiveness of the various forms of existing shelter programming for successful reintegration. The data gathered will be shared with the CWCC to enable the agency to better serve clients and to document effectiveness of programming to help in seeking external funding. (Schauffler 205; ext. 2559; jweaner@defiance.edu)
NEW ORLEANS
Dr. Kenneth Christiansen, Professor of Religion and Sociology.
Dr. Christiansen plans to research what has motivated people to respond to the Churches Supporting Churches movement for Katrina recovery and use this knowledge to aid CSC and potentially other similar movements to connect with a base of donors. Dr. Christiansen’s research will gather information from groups and individuals who have supported CSC in the past and continue to do so now. The data will be collected and analyzed within the framework of the sociological field of study called Symbolic Interactionism. (Schauffler 122; ext. 2455; chrstnsn@defiance.edu)
