ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio University Foundation has awarded $387,000 from the 1804 Fund to 19 new research and educational initiatives. Projects range from the purchase of a "Bod Pod" to examine body composition in health and medical studies to the creation of a new undergraduate major in women's studies.

The 1804 Fund offers seed money to initiatives that support the university's core mission of maintaining, strengthening and enhancing a learning-centered community. Awards are administered for faculty research and graduate studies and for initiatives that promote undergraduate learning.

Eight proposals in the faculty research and graduate studies category of the awards received funding totaling more than $207,000 this year. Projects that promote research and scholarship activities, multidisciplinary work and innovations in graduate education are top candidates for the funding.

"Most of the successful proposals involved graduate students and were inherently multidisciplinary," said John A. Bantle, vice president for research at Ohio University, whose office oversees administration of the faculty research and graduate studies awards. "What gave the successful projects an edge were definite plans for project continuation after the 1804 grant was completed."

The 1804 Fund awarded more than $179,000 to 11 projects in the undergraduate learning category, which is administered by University College. This category supports projects that promote curricular innovations, programs and activities that enhance undergraduate education. Preference is given to collaborative projects that focus on innovations in technology for learning, teaching excellence and writing excellence.

"Although only 11 of the 20 proposals submitted to the undergraduate learning category of the 1804 Fund were approved for funding, the quality of the proposals generally was very high," said David Descutner, interim dean of University College.

A list of all 1804 Fund recipients follows. Faculty and staff interested in applying for the 2003 award cycle must have a preliminary discussion with the Vice President for Research or Dean of University College by March 15. Proposals are due April 15. More information about the 1804 Fund is available online at www.ohiou.edu/research/1804.html.

Recipients of the 1804 Fund awards, faculty research and graduate studies

Project: "Tectonic Evolution of the Granjero Schist, NE Mexico: A Combined Structural and Geochronological Investigation"

Recipient: Damian Nance, Department of Geological Sciences

Award: $25,970

Project: "Purchase of the Ultracentrifuge for the Biochemistry Research Facility"

Recipients: Martin Tuck, Elisar Barbar, Jennifer Hines, Peter Johnson and Marcia Kieliszewski, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Award: $35,040

Project: "Hocking River Opera Festival: A Pilot Project"

Recipient: William Mouat, School of Music

Award: $14,945

Project: "Acquisition of the BOD POD for Measurement of Body Composition"

Recipients: Darlene Berryman, School of Human and Consumer Sciences; Mary Frances Astrom, Wellworks; Roger Gilders and Sharon Perry-Rana, School of Recreation and Sports Sciences; and Anne Loucks, Department of Biological Sciences

Award: $17,040

Project: "A Collaborative Initiative in Neutrino Physics"

Recipients: Allena Opper, Carl Brune, Daniel Carman, Charlotte Elster, Steven Grimes, Kenneth Hicks, Mark Lucas, Jack Rapaport and Louis Wright, Department of Physics and Astronomy

Award: $35,000

Project: "Regional Electronic Assistance Center for the Humanities (REACH)"

Recipients: Joseph Slade, School of Telecommunications, and Judith Yaross Lee, School of Interpersonal Communication

Award: $32,085

Project: "Regenerative Supercirculation Wing for Vertical Takeoff: Experimental Concept Validation"

Recipients: Jim Zhu, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Robert Williams II and Gregory Kremer, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Award: $34,500

Project: "Integration of Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cells within Coal-Derived Syngas to Promote Environmentally Sound Energy Production"

Recipients: David Bayless and Gregory Kremer, Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Michael Prudich, Department of Chemical Engineering and the Ohio Coal Research Center

Award: $13,107

Recipients of the 1804 Fund awards, undergraduate learning

Project: "Creating a Community of Active Learners: Advice from the Experts"

Recipient: Karin Sandell, Center for Teaching Excellence

Award: $19,500

Project: "Developing Service-Learning Modules for the General Education Curriculum: A Model for Developing Active Learning that Engages Students"

Recipients: Merle Graybill, Center for Community Service, and Karin Sandell, Center for Teaching Excellence

Award: $19,500

Project: "Expanding Active Learning in Geography 201"

Recipients: Christopher Boone and Geoffrey Buckley, Department of Geography

Award: $19,924

Project: "Perspectives Special Edition: Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity at Ohio University"

Recipient: Kelli Whitlock, Office of Research Communications

Award: $19,647

Project: "Implementation of the LON-CAPA Course Delivery System at Ohio University"

Recipients: Mark Lucas, David Ingram, Jack Rapaport and Louis Wright, Department of Physics and Astronomy

Award: $18,950

Project: "Virtual Mini-Labs"

Recipient: Jorg Waltje, Department of Modern Languages

Award: $9,600

Project: "Engaging Science Students Through Active Learning"

Recipient: Martha Kline, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Award: $12,869

Project: "Establishing an Ohio University Geology Field Camp: A Tale of Two Orogens"

Recipients: David Schneider, Greg Nadon, Damian Nance, Department of Geological Sciences

Award: $19,700

Project: "Sensors to Servers: Meterological Observations and Communication in the New Millennium"

Recipient: Ronald Isaac, Department of Geography

Award: $7,109

Project: "Innovations in Nursing Education: Virtual Reality Education with a Human Touch"

Recipients: Charlotte Souers and Vicky Parker, School of Nursing, Chillicothe campus

Award: $13,582

Project: "A New Undergraduate Major in Women's Studies: Furthering the Goals of Student Engagement, Diversity and the New General Education Program"

Recipient: Susan Burgess, Women's Studies

Award: $19,250