Last summer, Laura Preston learned how to make and test asphalt samples at the University of New Hampshire.

The science teacher then used that knowledge to develop a lesson for her own geology students at Salem High School.

She not only taught the class something they had known little about, but also tried to foster in her students a love for scientific discovery and an appreciation for engineering.

"I'm always trying to bring the real world to them," said Preston, who worked as an oil and gas geologist before becoming a teacher. "The real world is, we need asphalt right now. People don't realize how much we rely on petroleum products. Crude oil is the basis for many of the products we use now. Plastics, pantyhose, cosmetics. I could go on and on."

Her time spent at UNH as a researcher for Dr. Jo Sias Daniel, an associate professor of civil engineering, and a team of graduate students was known as a Research Experience for Teachers.

Dr. Daniel's research interests lie in the area of asphalt concrete. An award she had received from the National Science Foundation's CAREER program enabled her to offer the RET to Preston.

Preston learned the process of making asphalt, testing samples and analyzing data. Then she developed a plan to bring the concepts to her own students, and created a miniature process of making and testing asphalt samples in her classroom.

"Petroleum was the big talk last fall with oil and gas being so expensive," said Preston who spent about a month teaching the asphalt unit to some 18 students. "So it was very applicable."

In their classroom, her students learned to batch, mix and create a sample of asphalt. Contests determined whose sample could withstand the most pressure and whose sample could get closest to a 6 to 8 percent air void standard. If asphalt is too porous, oxygen and water will go through it and the asphalt will deteriorate more quickly.

"In this day and age, I really think we have to give them a life application in school," said Preston, whose students also collected data. "You have to be able to say, this is important. You drive on these roads every single day."

The students also toured the quarry and industrial lab at Pike Industries in Hooksett. And Dr. Daniel visited Preston's classroom to talk about her career and present demonstrations of special properties of viscoelastic materials.

"That was a good opportunity for me to get in and talk to high school level students," said Dr. Daniel.

Bill Deveau, 19, found the asphalt lesson interesting.

"It was one of the better labs I had to go through during my school career," said Deveau who graduated last June. "It definitely got me thinking about the stuff on the road. Why there are so many potholes. How cracks, lumps are made."

Preston likes to foster in her students an excitement for discovery and tries to help them understand what engineering is and that it's an attractive profession.

"I wanted them to see that you go through a process of learning," said Preston. "It's not like you have the right answer right away. You make mistakes, and that?s how really science works."

Last June, Preston traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii, for the 2009 Engineering Research and Innovation Conference of the National Science Foundation?s Civil Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation Division. She presented a poster that details her research experience at UNH and the asphalt lesson she developed for her students.

Some of the photos show her students making and testing their samples.

"It was great working with Laura," said Dr. Daniel, who had invited Preston to represent her at the conference because she was unable to attend. "She had so much energy and enthusiasm for what she was doing."