| 2009 Toyota TAPESTRY Large Grant Awardees: Exciting the Next Generation – Magnetic Resonance for Everyone | April 6, 2009 |
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Dr. Reef (Philip D., II) Morse
Staff: Patty Giorgio
Steppingstone School for Gifted Education
28555 Middlebelt
Farmington Hills MI 48334
248-539-1666
http://www.smart-center.org
The Steppingstone Magnetic Resonance Training (SMART) Center offers
diverse opportunities to middle and high school students to practice
science in a research atmosphere using advanced instrumentation. The SMART
Center focuses on electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) as
the method of choice because it allows students to experience firsthand
how spectroscopic processes can be used to obtain information at a
molecular level. We propose to introduce students to EPR through an
imaging experiment whereby students can determine the two-dimensional
distribution of free radicals in a roasted coffee bean. Students will
learn how to mount the sample, rotate the sample during data collection,
how to apply back projection-reconstruction methods to obtain an image,
and to present the data to a general audience. Students will design and
build much of the instrumentation (power supply, imaging coils, goniometer
stage to rotate the sample inside the magnetic field). Results will be
presented at an international magnetic resonance conference. Once students
have the experience of completing a project from start to finish, other
projects will be presented to them. Several of these have potential
medical, automotive, and engineering applications.
Original Article |
