C u rt i s S hannon
Chemistry and Biochemistry Research Update
Professor Curtis Shannon has a number of research projects under way. Most recently,
he and Assistant Professor Christopher Easley, both from the Department of Chemistry
and Biochemistry, and Associate Professor Virginia Davis of the Department of Chemical
Engineering, received an NSF-funded math and science education partnership led by Dr.
Shaik Jeelani of Tuskegee University titled, “The NanoBio Partnership for Alabama’s Black
Belt Region.” The partnership provides professional development to sixth – through eighthgrade science teachers to shift their instruction from conventional teaching strategies to the
use of an inquiry-centered, hands-on, experiment-based approach. The Auburn researchers
were awarded $550,000 over five years for teacher training and curriculum development that
focuses on the interface between nanoscience and biology.
“The project is geared toward students in the Black Belt region of Alabama in an effort
to encourage them to pursue careers in the sciences,” said Shannon. “There is a real lack of
scientific expertise in the region.”
Other partners in the grant include Alabama State University, the University of Alabama
(Birmingham and Tuscaloosa campuses) as well as Central Alabama, Enterprise, Shelton
State, Wallace State and Wallace State at Selma community colleges.
Shannon a