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Editorial

Novel Opportunities in STEM Fields

Harvey J.M. Hou

Department of Physical/Forensic Sciences, Alabama State University, Alabama 36104, USA,

*Corresponding author, Harvey J.M. Hou, E-mail: hhou@alasu.edu

National Science Foundation (NSF) recommends a broader definition of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, which includes chemistry, computer and information technology science, engineering, geosciences, life sciences, mathematical sciences, physics and astronomy, social sciences (anthropology, economics, psychology and sociology), and STEM education and learning research (NSF 2012a, NSF 2012b, NSF 2014).

STEM is believed to be one of the fast growing areas in driving the global economy for the 21st century. STEM education and research enable us to prepare students to have inquiring minds, logical reasoning, and collaboration skills. The training in the fields of STEM will ensure the next generation of workforce capable of making evidence-based decisions and significant innovations in the world. According to the National Science Board’s Science and Engineering Indicators, between 1960 and 2013, workers in the fields of STEM have grown at an average annual rate of 3 percent compared to 2 percent overall growth of the total workforce (NSF 2017). The projected job level in the fields of STEM during 2010-2010 is about 62% (US Department of Education 2017). National Science Foundation has funded “Research and Evaluation on Education in Science and Engineering 2020 Vision (Dierking et al 2016).” Novel opportunities in the fields of STEM is enormous.

Since 1900s, Alabama State University (ASU) has established annual research symposia to assemble and share the knowledge and innovation of research and creative activities (Strout 2017). In 2017, ASU's College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (C-STEM) sponsored the 2017 Annual Research Symposium, held in the John Garrick Hardy Student Center on Wednesday, March 15 to Thursday, March 16, 2017. The 2017 Symposium is a collaborative effort with the College of Health Sciences (COHS). The Symposium website is <https://sites.google.com/a/alasu.edu/ars-2017>. Readers may download the program including abstracts.

The Symposium has been financially supported by seven ASU program directors (Shree Singh, Karyn Gunn, Komal Vig, Derrick Dean, Carl Pettis, B.K. Robertson, and Manoj Mishra), two companies (ThermoFisher and Wheaton), and 17 individuals (Benjamin Gomez, Leon Wilson, Robert Villafane, Chunhua Feng, Shreekumar Pillai, Elijah Nyairo, Sabita Saldanha, Hongzhuan Wu, Mamie Coats, Raynetta Preva-Williams, Qiana Matthews, Shuntele Burns, Audrey Napier, Xiaolin Li, Douglas Strout, Bo Wang, and Harvey Hou).

The Symposium has received 76 abstracts (31 talks and 45 posters) presented by 38 research laboratories in 13 institutions from five states, Connecticut, Texas, Michigan, Indiana, and Alabama (Annual research symposium program book 2017). The group photo was shown in Figure 1. The Symposium includes talks and poster session (Figure 2 ). These 38 presenting laboratories are composed of 23 ASU research groups and 15 external research units. The 13 institutions include Yale University, Prairie View A&M University, Indiana University School of Medicine, Michigan State University, University of Alabama, Auburn University, University of Alabama Birmingham, Tuskegee University, University of West Alabama, Huntingdon College, Auburn University Montgomery, Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, and Alabama State University. In addition, eight participating collaborative institutions of these research groups are involved, such as Aston University (UK), the Chantal Biya International Reference Center for Research (Cameroon), Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indiana, Air Force Research Lab in New York, Michigan Technological University, Tulane University, University of Southern Mississippi, and University of South Carolina School of Medicine.

Figure 1. A group photo of the 2017 Annual Research Symposium.

The Plenary Speaker of the Symposium is Dr. Gary Brudvig, Benjamin Silliman Professor of Chemistry, Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, at Yale University. Dr. Brudvig is an outstanding teacher, a top scientist, and a well-known world leader in Photosynthesis and Energy Sciences. The Symposium will have two Featured Speakers, the winner of the Faculty of the Year in STEM fields, Dr. Shreekumar Pillai, and the winner of the Faculty of the Year in Health Sciences, Dr. Bridgette Stasher-Booker. Other speakers will include ASU faculty as well as the participants from University of Alabama, University of Alabama Birmingham, Tuskegee University, Auburn University Montgomery, and Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.

We are especially delighted to have Dr. Cajetan Akujuobi, the former dean of C-STEM and current Vice President for Research at Prairie View A&M University, to give a speech this year. We are also extremely happy to have an outstanding alumnus Dr. Thelma Ivery, the former dean of C-STEM, to join us to celebrate the ASU Sesquicentennial Anniversary.

Figure 2. The lecture hall of the 2017 Annual Research Symposium. 

It is evident that the 250 word abstracts of the presentations provide relatively limited information. To promote the communication and enhance the collaborative opportunity among the participants of the Symposium, we hope to publish the innovative research results presented in the 2017 Annual Research Symposium in the form of research papers and review articles. The relevant journals are Heliyon, International Journal of STEM Education, American Journal of Undergraduate Research, and Springer Science Review. However, the attempt to publish these research manuscripts in a book or a Special Issue of a peer-reviewed journal is not successful.

In 1950s, a similar dilemma was faced by the scientists at Rockefeller University when they try to publish their innovative research focusing on the intracellular anatomy using the emerging technology of electron microscopy (JCB 2017). They cannot find an appropriate journal to publish their research results and finally decided to initiated a new journal, "The Journal of Cell Biology (JCB)," which is produced by the Rockefeller University. JCB has published many seminal discoveries, including the first descriptions of numerous cellular functions and structures, such as the secretory pathway, mitochondrial and chloroplast. It has played a key role in promoting the generation of a new scientific division, "Cell Biology," and the founding of a new society, "The American Society for Cell Biology."

Inspired by the Rockefeller pioneers, a new peer-reviewed journal, "Frontiers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (FSTEM)," was initiated to publish the manuscripts from the participants of the Symposium and additional manuscripts, which are not presented in the Annual Research Symposium.   

The targeting readers of FSTEM include undergraduates, M.S. students, Ph.D. students, postdocs, scientists, professors, and others who are interested in STEM research. The manuscript authors of FSTEM are anticipated to be undergraduates, graduates, scientists, and professors.

On behalf of the editorial board, I am delighted to introduce the inaugural issue of the journal for your reading. The inaugural issue includes seven manuscripts below, including two STEM education papers and five STEM research articles.

Berch and his co-workers used high risk/transformative research projects to introduce undergraduates to fundamental research (Berch et al 2017). It is known that High Risk/Transformative research projects possess an inherent excitement in their potential.  This excitement may inspire students through the research process. However, most assessment metrics are product-focused, the authors present here new metrics that can be used to evaluate the students.

Jordan and her co-workers used case studies as an active learning tool to enhance student engagement and learning in biology classrooms (Jordan et al 2017). It is known that case studies are an outstanding way to engage students in critical thinking in classes. The authors surveyed over 300 students at Alabama State University.  Over 90% of students thought the case study was an effective classroom assignment.   

Murphy and her co-workers conducted metal analysis of deer hooves in South Alabama (Archie et al 2017). Metal presence in deer may be a consequence of deer nutrition, deer health, deer baiting, contamination via lead or metal ammunition, and environmental factors. The authors found that the levels of metals determined in the deer hooves samples were: Zn > Fe > Cu > Ni > Mn  > Pb > Cr > Cd, with V not detected and Co detected in hooves from only two deer.  The metal analysis of deer hooves demonstrates that deer hooves may be used as sentinels of the environment, health, and nutrition of deer.

Robertson and his co-workers investigated microbes in mercury contaminated soils (Egbo et al 2017). Mercury contamination within the Oak Ridge Reservation has been investigated over the years. A comprehensive understanding of the potentials of predominant microorganisms is vital for cleaning. The use of sorbents has been proposed as a cleanup strategy; however, biological factors need to be evaluated as regards to the strategy. The team has isolated DNA from contaminated soils (SB 5-8, SB 14-8) and control soil with little or no mercury contamination. The results did not show any significant influence of S. marcescens on the sorbents compared to other microbes.

Feng examined stability and oscillation in coupled Rayleigh-Duffing oscillators model with delays (Feng 2017). He introduced a coupled Rayleigh-Duffing oscillators model with delays. Computer simulations has verified the theoretical results.

Wu and his co-workers explored the detection of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses in wild aquatic birds (Missoum et al 2017). Low pathogenic avian influenza virus commonly occurs in wild birds. The authors proposed a laboratory detection protocol of avian influenza virus for aquatic bird samples.

Strout examined the carbonyl versus dinitrogen bonding to nickel and iron using computation method (Strout 2017). Complex nitrogen-containing molecules have promising potential as energetic materials. Transition metals are well-known as reaction catalysts. Strout examined dinitrogen bonding to nickel and iron compared with a much more widely known counterpart, carbonyl.  Theoretical calculations using density functional theory have determined the relative strength of dinitrogen and carbonyl bonds to the metal centers.

It is our intention that FSTEM may provide a new opportunity to serve the readers in the STEM community. For example, FSTEM may provide a useful platform for undergraduate, graduate, and research scholars to share their research experience to broader audience. One of the most important goals of the journal is to showcase the quality work of faculty, graduate, and undergraduate research. It may inspire and motivate the students in their future STEM endeavors and facilitate the collaborations among the faculty members in their respective fields.

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the contributing authors to this issue for submitting and revising their manuscripts, and reviewers for critically evaluating the manuscripts in a timely manner. He also thanks the editorial board members for their support. He is grateful to Kennedy Wekesa for discussion and advice. He also thanks Haley Cumbie and Gerald Cobb for assistance. This work is supported by the Alabama State University.

References

Annual research symposium program book, Alabama State University, March 15-16, 2017, pp. 1-76

Archie A, Fike EK, and Murphy MK (2017) Metal analysis of deer hooves in south Alabama: Sentinels of deer health, nutrition, and the environment, Frontiers Sci. Technol. Eng. Math., 1, 5-9 

Berch JK, Murphy MK, and Jackson DD (2017) Using high risk/transformative research projects to introduce undergraduates to the research process, Frontiers Sci. Technol. Eng. Math., 1, 10-14

Egbo TE, Dickson JO, Miller C, Johs A, Sanders CA, and Robertson BK (2017) Characterization, identification and seasonal evaluation of microbes in mercury contaminated soils, Frontiers Sci. Technol. Eng. Math., 1, 15-26 

Dierking LD and Falk JH (2016) 2020 Vision: Envisioning a new generation of STEM learning research, Cultural Studies Sci. Edu., 11, 1-10

Feng C (2017) Stability and oscillation in coupled Rayleigh-Duffing oscillators model with delays, Frontiers Sci. Technol. Eng. Math., 1, 27-37 

JCB (2017) History, http://jcb.rupress.org/history (accessed October 2, 2017)

Jordan D, Bibb K, Saldanha S, Jones-Triche J, Karki L, and Jordan SM (2017) Using case studies as an active learning tool to enhance student engagement and learning in general biology classrooms, Frontiers Sci. Technol. Eng. Math., 1, 38-48

Missoum B, Payne D, Robertson BK, Scissum-Gunn K, and Wu H (2017) Comparison of three assays to detect low pathogenic avian influenza viruses in wild aquatic birds, Frontiers Sci. Technol. Eng. Math., 1, 49-55 

NSF (2014) NSF Approved STEM fields, btaa.org. (accessed September 30, 2017)

NSF (2012a) "Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education: A Primer" (PDF). Fas.org. (accessed September 30, 2017)

NSF (2012b) "Graduate Research Fellowship Program," nsf.gov. (accessed September 30, 2017)

NSF (2017) Science and Engineering Indicators, https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/ (accessed September 29, 2017)

Strout DL, “The journey: The research symposium then and now,” Annual research symposium program book, Alabama State University, March 15-16, 2017, p. 33

Strout DL (2017) Carbonyl versus dinitrogen bonding to nickel(0) and iron(0), Frontiers Sci. Technol. Eng. Math., 1, 56-61  

US Department of Education (2017) Science, technology, engineering and math: Education for global leadership, https://www.ed.gov/stem (accessed September 29, 2017)

Citation:

Harvey J.M. Hou (2017) Novel opportunities in STEM fields, Frontiers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Volume 1, Issue 1, 1-4