Bowling Green, Ky. -Three Western Kentucky University students are spending eight weeks conducting chemistry research in Taiwan as part of a collaboration between WKU and National Chung Hsing University in Taichung.

Candace Guerrero of Olaton, Kali Pickering of Columbia, Tenn., and Jason Weiner of Sparta are working in the laboratory with Professor Shing-Yi Suen and his Taiwanese students. The WKU students will return on July 13.

The research topic is the investigation of synthetic membranes having attached surfactants. These membranes may be used in the future for pollution control or determining biomolecules in various samples. In addition students are taking a course in Mandarin and visiting sites in Taiwan such as Taipei and Tarako Gorge National Park.

This fall, Professor Suen’s students will visit WKU to conduct research on this same topic and visit nearby sites such as Nashville, Mammoth Cave National Park and Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace.

The project is funded through a three-year, $100,238 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Office of International Science and Engineering. Dr. Eric Conte, WKU chemistry professor and the principal investigator, has been collaborating with Professor Suen on the research.

Other WKU students will visit Taiwan during the next two summers. All expenses for the students are paid through the grant, including a $3,500 stipend.

The WKU students will present their research results at regional and national scientific meetings.

Photo caption: WKU students (from left) Candace Guerrero, Jason Weiner and Kali Pickering visited Chang Kai-shek Memorial Hall with two Taiwanese students during their eight-week trip to Taiwan.

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For information, contact Eric Conte at (270) 745-6019.

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