George E. Miller
School of Physical Sciences
OTH
326 Rowland Hall
Mail Code: 2025
Irvine, CA 92697
1990 UCI Alumni Association Award for Academic Community Service
1995 ACS Orange County section Award for Service Through Chemistry
1965-66, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of California at Irvine
The availability of the highly sensitive neutron activation analysis technique, which can be used to analyze very small samples, has great application in the physical investi gation of archeological specimens. Such samples as pottery fragments and silver plate are examined. An extensive study was made to provide information both on the origin of sculptures and for reconstruction of broken pieces. Activation analysis studies are also done with diverse biomedical samples such as saliva, bone, hair, and blood. A major study involved measuring calcium and barium in bone samples as a way to monitor bone calcium loss, and as a calibration to correct measurement of bone lead content in archeological bone specimens.
Devices are designed and constructed to permit novel uses of the reactor facility equipment. Examples are a computer-controlled sample changer for gamma-ray spectrometry; a dual, precision, transfer system for activated samples; and computer programs for data handling. Past construction has included a fast (< 0.5 s) transfer system, a device enabling irradiation of samples at cryogenic temperatures, and an assortment of special irradiation devices.
The daily operation of the UCI nuclear reactor facility is my responsibility and students have been trained to become licensed reactor operators. They gain experience in related fields such as radiological monitoring, shielding design, equipment maintenance, and license administration.
I am involved in several programs aimed at improving science education in California through working with teachers of K-12 students. Part of this work involves studies of methods of assessment (performance assessment) where students are asked to use their science knowledge to solve small problems. Some are also asked to create portfolios of their work throughout the year. Studies are underway to determine the best methods of scoring such assessments, and how reliable these exams are at judging a student's achievement, in comparison to the more usual multiple-choice exams. Additional research is exploring how young students will best learn science for the twenty first century.
Analysis of the Density Concept. International Journal of Science
Education, in press, 1995. M. Taagepera,
F.A. Potter, G.E. Miller, K. Lakshminarayan.
State Examinations Science Portfolio Project. The Science
Teacher, 62 (No 1), 50, 1995. M. Martin, G.E.
Miller, J. Delgado.
Art Papers, Volume 9, San Diego Museum Papers
No 28, 1992, 147. G.E. Miller, G.S. Hurd.
Activation Analysis using Reactor Neutrons - Revisited.
Journal of Radioanalytical Chemistry 1993,
168,257. G. E. Miller, T. A. Crofoot.
Tooth Enamel, Rib, and Ulna. The Science of the
Total Environments 1991, 107, 179.
M. Manea-Krichton, C. Patterson, G. E. Miller, D. Settle, Y. Erel.
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=2037
07/11/2001