CLEMSON –– Krishna P.C. Madhavan, assistant professor of engineering and science education in the School of Computing, has received a $511,824 National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award for research on how cyber-tools and cyber-environments better enable learning in engineering disciplines.
“With this award to Dr. Madhavan, NSF has recognized a tremendous idea that illustrates the importance of information technology in education,” said Esin Gulari, dean of the College of Engineering and Science.
Madhavan’s research looks at how virtual environments that focus on cutting-edge engineering problems can be better designed to produce positive learning outcomes for engineering students. The larger vision of his work is to bridge the gap between advanced engineering research and the engineering curricula where the focus is on students and how they learn.
“This research will lead to the creation of highly adaptive and customizable learning experiences when using cyber-tools and cyber-environments as part of the engineering curricula,” said Madhavan. “In other words, we want our education tools to match the level of information richness and sophistication that our students are accustomed to in their everyday cyber-social interactions.”
The professor says the research has the potential to increase interest and spark new careers in engineering and in computing.
The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program offers the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious awards in support of the early career-development activities of teacher-scholars who most effectively integrate research and education within the context of the mission of their organizations. Madhavan’s award is from the Engineering Education and Centers Division (EEC).
For more than 100 years, the disciplines of engineering, science and textiles have been at the heart of Clemson University as it strives towards excellence and leadership. Today, Clemson is a nationally recognized research university where approximately 5,500 students are enrolled in engineering and science undergraduate and graduate courses. There are 350 faculty in the College of Engineering and Science. Connect to http://www.ces.clemson.edu/ for more information.