@article{9ab48245cba64647a8c0337f955e5605,
title = "Assessing the outcomes of student involvement in research: Educational outcomes in an Engineering Research Center",
abstract = "The academic literature on NSF's Engineering Research Center (ERC) program to date has been characterized with an emphasis that is somewhat disconnected from the stated goals of the program. The ERC program was established to accomplish two main goals: to improve engineering research and education so that engineers training in US universities can more readily contribute to engineering practice; and to train engineers in industry-relevant ways to improve industrial competitiveness. However, the bulk of academic writing on this program has focused on evaluating outcomes that are indirectly related to the core program mission, such as new products and processes acquired by firms, patents and licensing revenues, etc. To address this gap, this study assesses how ERCs affect student educational and training outcomes. Using survey data from a study of students affiliated with the Mid-America Earthquake Centre, this study assesses how center experiences affect the educational effects of ERCs.",
author = "Branco Ponomariov and Eric Welch and Julia Melkers",
note = "Funding Information: This paper, based on an evaluation of a single center — the Mid-America Earthquake (MAE) ERC — explores the center-level processes that could impact the educational outcomes for students. The MAE Center is one of the three earthquake ERCs supported by NSF within the ERC program. All ERCs receive NSF funding renewable for up to 10 years, after which they are expected to either become self sufficient, or close (Bozeman and Boardman, 2004). The MAE Center was in its eighth year of NSF funding at the time of the study. The center consists of more than 100 faculty from nine member institutions and a variety of disciplines such as civil engineering, geology, computer science and public policy. Its research mission is to facilitate and produce engineering and social research to minimize the risks and consequences of earthquakes on public and private infrastructure. The center also develops software applications useful for a wide range of stakeholders, such as seismic loss assessment systems. The center has an active group of stakeholders and industry collaborators, including utility and insurance companies, and local governments. Copyright: Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",
year = "2009",
month = oct,
doi = "10.3152/095820209X475351",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "18",
pages = "313--322",
journal = "Research Evaluation",
issn = "0958-2029",
publisher = "Beech Tree Publishing",
number = "4",
}