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Research Interests
Dr. V. Adam Niculescu
Physics Education
I am developing a new general education physical science course, Wonders of Technology. The course focuses on the technological applications of physical principles in order to teach those principles in a concrete way. All of the course activities take place in the laboratory so that students can participate actively at all times. Amoung the activies are multimedia computer programs interfaced to laboratory experiments and simple hands-on projects using common household appliances and materials.
Recent grants and proposals:
- Seamless Science: A Program for Coordinating College and High School Science Education, with Joe Chinnici, funded by SCHEV (State Council on Higher Education in Virginia) under the Funds for Excellence Program; one year, $47,000 --- ended July 1, 1995
- Hands on Physics Instruction with Lego Technic, with Mathematics and Science Center, SCHEV grant, 1994-95, $40,000, ended July 1, 1995.
- Young Scholars Project --- Coordinator for the physics segment of the Mathematics Department NSF grant, Summer 1995.
- Virginia Urban Corridor Teacher Preparation Collaborative, NSF grant for five years, PI: Reuben Farley, Bill Haver, Joe Chinnici, Richard Rezba, $5,000,000, Participant in the Physics component of the grant, 1996-2001.
- Learning Experimental Design in Elementary and Middle School Classes, PI V. Adam Niculescu, Joe Chinnici, Richard Rezba, 1996-97, $56,000.
Materials Physics
Our recent research activity has focused on the development of methods for making,
processing, and characterizing amorphous alloys with compositions and structures that
make them suitable for biomedical applications. This involves a complex study of their
electrical and magnetic properties, surfaces, and corrosion behavior.
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