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Greetings!
Welcome to the Fulbright Academy's electronic newsbulletin. As you can
see, we have switched the format so that it is easier to read on-line, and
you will be seeing more changes in the coming months.
Thousands of Fulbrighters are working on cutting-edge research in
science, engineering, medicine, and other technical fields. Where is the
next generation of leaders? Some are still in primary and secondary
school, others have already begun their professional careers. This issue
takes a look at some of the work Fulbrighters are doing to support
professional development and to get young people interested in science and
math.
Improving Engineering & Science Education 
The Center for Improved Engineering and Science Education was
established in 1988 at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey to
help bring the Institute's technology experience to the K-12 sector. The
goal is to help teachers and administrators realize the benefits of
integrating technology into the curriculum in order to more effectively
engage students in learning while improving student achievement,
particularly in science and mathematics.
Dr. Edward A. Friedman is the founder and director of the Center.
Fulbright runs in the family: he was a Fulbright Fellow at the Bulgarian
Academy of Sciences in Sofia in 1992; his wife had Fulbright in cultural
studies in Afghanistan in 1978, and one of his sons went to Taiwan in 1999
on a Fulbright to study anthropology. Dr. Friedman earned his Ph.D. in
Physics from Columbia University in 1963 and for many years conducted
research in experimental solid state physics. As Dean of the College at
Stevens, he oversaw intensive computer integration in engineering
education programs starting in 1977. These efforts led in 1982 to Stevens
becoming the first college in the U.S. to require all students to own a
computer.
Since 1994, CIESE has been a pioneer in the development of
Internet-based lessons that exploit the unique and compelling aspects of
this technology. Focusing on the use of real-time data and global
telecollaborative projects, these projects engage students in authentic
science investigations in which they perform experiments, collect and
record real data, make predictions and, in effect, become real scientists.
Current programs involve collaborations in five states to train more than
10,000 teachers.
CIESE just received a grant from the U.S. Departmentof State (using
Fulbright funds) to support work with women science teachers from
Afghanistan - Dr. Friedman was head of a USAID program that created an
indigenous college of engineering in Afganistan in the 1970s. You can
visit their web site for information on a program being pursued in Peru,
Ecuador and Costa Rica at
http://k12science.stevens-tech.edu/ciberaprendiz/
Find out more about
www.K12science.org
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Medical Training in Developing Countries |
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 Dr. Medge Owen works
in the Department of Anesthesia at the Wake Forest University
Baptist Medical Center. In 1997 she went to Bursa, Turkey for 14
months to teach obstetric anesthesia and newborn resuscitation at
the Uludag University. She went there to help solve a problem:
Insufficient physician training is leading to many needless maternal
deaths.
More than 500,000 mothers die each year and 50 million women
suffer complications as a result of childbirth. In many countries,
pregnancy and childbirth represent the leading causes of death,
disease and disability among women of reproductive age.
In Turkey, Dr. Owen found that hospitals often delivered babies
through cesarean sections under general anesthesia because the local
doctors are unfamiliar with new techniques and technologies for pain
relief. During her year in Bursa, epidural pain relief service for
labor was established and utilization grew from less than 1% to 15%
of births within a year, and now the rate is over 50%. General
anesthesia for a C-section decreased from more than 80% to 40% of
births.
Because of her Fulbright experience, Dr. Owen has created
"Kybele," a non-profit organization promoting safe childbirth, with
a particular focus on education in countries that have a healthcare
infrastructure of hospitals and supplies but lack physician
training. Kybele is 7,000-year-old goddess of fertility in Anatolia
(see photo). Dr. Owen can be reached at mowen@wfubmc.edu
Read
more about Dr. Owen's work. »
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Science & Technology in Singapore |
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 The Singapore Agency
for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) seeks to create
knowledge and harness scientific discoveries for a better world.
They do it by fostering world-class scientific research and
nurturing world-class scientific talent. In partnership with
scientists, A*STAR seeks to build up intellectual capital and
scientific capabilities while also creating jobs and economic
benefits.
Leading edge research is supported in A*STAR's 11 research
institutes. In the biomedical field, the research focus include
genomics, molecular biology, bioengineering/ nanotechnology,
bioinformatics and bioprocessing chemistry. Close collaborations
with hospitals and other research partners bring scientific
discoveries from bench to bedside. Research capabilities in other
Science and Engineering fields include data storage,
microelectronics, infocomm, manufacturing technology, materials
science and chemical sciences. Scientific excellence in these areas
is closely coupled with industry application through joint
industry-projects and attachment of experienced researchers.
The foundation of good science, engineering and biomedical
research is Talented People. A*STAR offers attractive local and
overseas scholarships and organises a range of youth programmes to
encourage students to consider careers in science. The programmes
include student seminars, research projects in Singapore and abroad,
and awards of excellence for inventions and research. In addition,
A*STAR places emphasis on attracting top local and foreign talents
to join the growing community of scientists in Singapore. Programmes
such as the International Research Fellowships support scientists
from Europe and the US to work in A*STAR's research institutes for a
period of time. International partnerships are also forged with
renowned institutions overseas through collaborative reearch, staff
exchange and other joint initiatives. 
The Fulbright connection? Mr. Philip Yeo, Chairman of the Agency,
obtained his MBA from Harvard University under a Fulbright
scholarship in 1976. Mr. Yeo graduated in 1970 in Applied Science
(Industrial Engineering) from the University of Toronto, Canada
under a Colombo Plan Scholarship and obtained a Master of Science in
Systems Engineering from the University of Singapore in 1974. Mr Yeo
was the Chairman of the Economic Development Board from January 1986
to January 2001 and has served on the board of numerous Singapore
corporations.
For
more information about this month's sponsor »
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Your News and Your Support |
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 The Academy is using this news
bulletin to build ties among the Fulbright family. Please tell us
about the exciting, innovative work that you are doing so that we
can share it with others.
Send your news via email: info@fulbrighter.org. We can also write
a story based on information from your website or brochures that you
mail to our office: FAST, PO Box CC-284, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107-
0284.
The Fulbright Academy is an independent non-profit organization
managed by a dedicated group of volunteers. The Academy receives
moral support from many organizations interested in developing a
network of Fulbright scholars, but it is not affiliated with the US
Department of State, which provides some of the funding for the
global Fulbright Exchange Program. The State Department is not
responsible for the content or operation of this newsletter or our
website, and it cannot be assumed that they approve or endorse any
material appearing on it.
The Academy welcomes donations from individuals, businesses,
foundations and agencies in support of our mission. Please note that
we have not received financial support from nor do we provide
support to any organization or agency involved in managing the
Fulbright exchange program. Your donations will be used solely in
support of the global mission of the Academy.
To make a
donation.... »
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What Do You Think? |
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| Our last newsletter was an Adobe PDF file, sent
as an attachment to an e-mail. This newsletter was sent using a
e-mail software system from ConstantContact.com. What do you think
of it? Send us your thoughts.
This newsletter was written and produced by Eric Howard, a
Fulbrighter who went to West Germany in 1989 to conduct research on
forest and land-use planning. He graduated from Wesleyan University
with honors in geology and earned his masters degree from the
Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke. He has fifteen years
experience as a senior manager with non-profit organizations
interested in science, environmental conservation and sustainable
business development. During the past year Eric has taken the lead
on establishing the Fulbright Academy. If you would like to be
involved, please give him a call at 207- 767-8073.
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