Meera Chandrasekhar

University of Missouri-Columbia | Columbia, MO | 1999

Meera Chandrasekhar Portrait Photo

The official biography below was current at the time of the award. Awardees may choose to provide their latest biographical information on their profile page.

Exploring Physics, an after-school program to introduce physics to 5th-7th-grade female students was the first program developed by Dr. Chandrasekhar. Since its inception in 1992, it has grown to be part of elementary school's curriculum impacting about 300 students annually. While maintaining an active research laboratory where she studies the optical characteristics of semiconductors, Dr. Chandrasekhar also developed three additional programs: (i) Families Exploring Science and Technology, where 6th and 7th grade students and their parents build a drawbridge; (ii) Saturday Science, where 8th and 9th grade students visit local industrial sites and participate in hands-on activities; and, (iii) Newton Academy, a ten-day residential science and technology program for female students in grades 9 through 11.