Professor Ryan Hayward has received a five-year, $475,000 CAREER grant from the National Science Foundation to conduct research on hydrogels, materials that can absorb hundreds of times their weight in water and undergo huge changes in volume. This research will be translated into educational modules for students in grades K-12 in cooperation with the Boston Museum of Science. Modules will be available to teachers through a database and for use in traveling workshops through the museum’s outreach program. As part of the grant, Hayward will also develop a seminar focused on helping graduate students to develop effective teaching skills.

National Science Foundation CAREER grants are awarded to support the early career development activities of those teacher-scholars who most effectively integrate research and teaching. The grant will begin on April 1, 2008.