SAN MARCOS -- Cal State San Marcos has received a $1.49 million grant for a project designed to make science classes fun and engaging for middle school students.

Professors Katherine Hayden and Youwen Ouyang sought the National Science Foundation grant for a project called "iQuest: Investigations for Quality Understanding and Engagement for Students and Teachers."

Hayden, who teaches in the university's College of Education, and Ouyang, a faculty member in CSUSM's College of Arts and Sciences, plan to use the foundation money to design a middle school curriculum that mixes seventh- and eighth-grade science standards with technology resources in a way that gets students interested in science.

The technology will include visualization tools, interactive games and online collaboration.

The project will start in January and focus on minority students, with a goal of getting them ready, interested in and participating in careers in the science and technology fields.