2011 Programs are being planned and will be posted in the near future!

MIT Luncheon

On January 20, 2010 the Whitaker Center hosted the Naples MIT Club on campus. Lunch was served in the Student Union Ballroom after which Dr. Kris Csavina, Dr. Scott Michael and Dr. Sharon Isern made presentations to the group.

Dr. Scott Michael and Dr. Sharon Isern of the Biosciences Research Group at FGCU presented their work on using biomedical technology to work towards a vaccine for Dengue Fever, a widespread tropical disease. Both professors trained at Johns Hopkins University and conducted research at Tulane prior to being recruited by FGCU. 

Dr. Kristina Csavina of the UA Whitaker School of Engineering at FGCU presents an interactive demonstration of her work using motion capture software (like those used to develop video games and the movie Avatar) to help physical therapists analyze patients' gait patterns and develop custom treatment plans to help patients walk again.

FGCU Campus Field Trip

On January 22, 2010 Benjamin Whitmore, an FGCU student, created an opportunity for Three Oaks Middle School students to visit the FGCU campus for a day of learning about the great variety of nature Southwest Florida has to offer. His team of FGCU studentd led a guided nature and sustainability walk. They planned an opportunity for the students to visit campus lakes to learn about cycles and collect water samples. This Field Trip contributed to the middle school's mission to provide their students with exposure to hands-on experiences, creativity, and logic in the learning of science.

Students reacted very positively to the well organized lesson plan on environmental science. It pulled together several threads that the students  had explored in previous lessons in their schools science class and also showcased many strands on ecology that the students had not explored. The involvement of the students was viewed by their teacher as one of the best and liveliest of all of the field trips they had experienced at their school and highlighted how well Benjamin's presentation captured the spirit of science with the students. We plan to continue this wonderful environmental program again next year.

 SRO (Student Research Opportunity)

For the past seven years, the Whitaker Center for STEM Education has sponsored a two week event for middle school students interested in STEM. These students must has participated in the Thomas Alva Edision Regional Science Fair. They must prepare an application and are chosen to participate in a Summer Research Opportunity at Florida Gulf Coast University offering them a hands-on experience of collaboration on a complete and genuine research problem from hypothesis generation and initial design, through field and laboratory data collection, and culminating in data analysis and interpretation.  The program is staffed by FGCU faculty and Graduate Student Assistants. This will be our 8th summer to host this valuable program for middle school students.