Sara Sweetman, assistant professor of elementary education, has received a URI Research Bridge Fund award in the amount of $21,967, with an additional $4,400 matching fund from the Office of the Dean, for the proposal entitled, “Partnering Educators for Placed-Based Learning Experiences.”

Dr. Sweetman’s proposal creates virtual, interactive, site experiences for K-12 students with enhanced simulation through sensory perception that mirrors an actual physical site visit, to extend and deepen the student experience. The Research Bridge Funding Initiative, created by Provost Donald DeHayes, is a short-term program intended to to enhance the competitive status and support scholarly work by URI faculty who have submitted proposals greater than $750,000 to federal research funding agencies, and received highly favorable reviews, but were not accepted. The project directly aligns with the University’s Academic Strategic Plan Goal #2 to expand research, scholastic and creative work.