Natural Sciences Faculty Secure National Science Foundation Grant to Bolster HSI Success
Natural Sciences faculty members Dr. Sean Chamberlin and Dr. Roman de Jesus recently secured a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant of $172,967 titled,” Creating Opportunities for Workforce Activities Bringing Next Generation Achievers into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)” or “COWABUNGA STEM.” A prestigious achievement, this grant will continue to provide students with top-tier education at Fullerton College.
“We applied for this grant to kick off our new AS degrees in Oceanography and Meteorology starting Fall 2025. It provides our students with opportunities to gain hands-on experience with the kinds of underwater robotic and electronic sensing tools available at four-year institutions, such as the University of Washington, where I did my undergraduate work in oceanography.” said Dr. Chamberlin.
COWABUNGA STEM was designed to address the lack of STEM professionals at Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). The grant also aims to upgrade the skills of STEM students at Fullerton College, while enhancing the quality of STEM education, recruitment, retention and graduation rates for students pursuing associate degrees and workforce certificates at HSIs. To achieve this, the grant plans to:
- Provide hands-on demonstrations to the public at ongoing college-wide outreach efforts
- Create formal and informal experiential STEM learning activities
- Build new pathways for students to pursue their STEM interests, including undergraduate and professional opportunities
“Our department values the outdoor and hands-on experiences that genuinely connect students to scientific knowledge and more importantly to our Blue Planet. We plan to use funding to help students explore oceanography and Earth Science with several new equipment items.” said Dr. De Jesus. “For example, the planned ROV (remotely operated vehicle) purchase will allow students to explore the subsurface ocean environment while they stay dry. The algae bioreactors will also help students investigate the importance of photosynthesis and phytoplankton to our ocean’s health. Both the ROV and algae bioreactors can serve as a segue into a potential career within Southern California’s emerging blue economy industry.”
Apart from the grant’s anticipated efforts, it will also provide students, regardless of their STEM major, the chance to bolster their educational and professional skills for the workforce by applying what they learn to their field of interest.
Additionally, Drs. Chamberlin and de Jesus will encourage students to explore technology in terrestrial and oceanic remote sensing, marine animal conservation, aquaculture production and monitoring and earth science education and apply it to their learning.
Fullerton College applauds this dynamic team for their efforts in securing this grant to uplift our students and support them every step of the way.
Dr. Sean Chamberlin
Dr. Roman de Jesus
