A NSF-funded Research Experience for Teachers Site in Innovative Transportation Systems (ITS-RET) will be established at the Western Transportation Institute beginning summer 2018. The three-year program will provide a six-week summer interdisciplinary research program for secondary school and community college STEM teachers and faculty. The project aims to develop teacher skills, and new curricula that demonstrate development and testing of new technologies, infrastructure materials, and models designed to improve rural transportation. The research will focus on the unique challenges of rural transportation systems with special attention paid to rural safety and operations, improving the longevity and overall utility of infrastructure, and improving communities through improved mobility and access to services. The overarching theme is on developing solutions to real world challenges through innovation. RET participants will work on research teams, participate in curriculum development workshops, and implement new teaching materials.

Research Experience Teachers (PDF)