Joshua B. Halpern, Howard University, DMR 0611595

1. Joshua B. Halpern, Howard University, DMR 0611595

2. Joshua B. Halpern, Howard University, DMR 0611595 Gallaudet, the National University for the Deaf, Joins the PREM Program Last summer three deaf students from Gallaudet University took part in summer research at Howard University as part of the PREM program. During the summer, the students were trained to use various nanotechnology and analytical chemistry instruments including electron and atomic force microscopes, lithographic equipment, mass spectroscopy, NMR etc. At the same time, they synthesized and characterized various β-ketoimines which are important precursors for accessing intermediates to be used for synthesis of nanomaterial by MOCVD. Led by Prof. Paul Sabila from Gallaudet, the students did research, participated in seminars and ethics training and went with the other REU students to visit NIST and Johns Hopkins. Instant messaging in a computer equipped seminar room allowed interaction between the hearing and deaf students. Today, SMS messaging is a major path for all students to communicate with each other, so it was easy for the hearing and deaf students to “talk” with each other. Research required a signing mentor, a role that Prof. Sabila filled. While the original plan was to have one student come to Howard, in Paul’s words, demand was so great that he had to bring three. The PREM is grateful to NSF for the supplementary support of the additional students For more information contact: Prof. Paul Sabila, Paul.Sabila@gallaudet.eduDepartment of Chemistry Gallaudet UniversityWashington, DC 20002 Prof. Joshua Halpern jhalpern@howard.eduPREM PIDepartment of ChemistryHoward UniversityWashington, DC 20059