What Happens When Discovery Laboratories Are Integrated into the Curriculum at a Large Research University?

Traditional laboratories are often based on the hidden assumptions that students can, and indeed should, work alone, and that they can leave the laboratory when they have finished collecting the data or observations. Discovery laboratories provide an alternative to traditional laboratories in which one or more routes are taken by groups of students working toward the discovery of a specific scientific relationship or concept. The discovery laboratories used in this study were developed by colleagues from institutions where faculty teach the laboratory component of the course. The goal of this study was to see what happens when discovery laboratories are integrated into the general chemistry curriculum at a large research university where teaching assistants are in charge of the laboratory sections.For the purpose of this study, we differentiated between a minimal level of success, in which discovery laboratories become an alternative approach to traditional experiments, and a significant level of success, in which they become a preferred approach. Evidence is presented to support the notion that discovery laboratories can be successfully integrated into the curriculum at a large research university, that students in the discovery laboratories believe they had to take responsibility for what happened in the laboratory, that both teaching assistants and the students reacted positively to the discovery laboratories, and that we achieved at least our definition of the minimal level of success.     

The European way to go: Virtual Central Laboratory

In clinical pharmaceutical trials often one central laboratory is used for the analysis of routine parameters, the so-called safety parameters. In many countries the heads of laboratory departments question the quality of such analysis in terms of quality of samples after transport, continuity of patient related medical laboratory information before, during and after the trial; turn around time; alerting procedures and consultancy to requesting physicians. On the other hand, the pharmaceutical industry prefers to work with central laboratories since they can claim certification or accreditation. Also the use of one set of reference values is an important issue, as well as electronic data transfer to the trial organizer's database. The concept of a Virtual Central Laboratory (VCL), initiated in the Netherlands, tries to solve this conflicting situation. In the concept, local hospital laboratories receive computer-assisted aid in the identification of patients, trials, visits and requests. The laboratory data are transformed using calibrator sets to produce a homogeneous data set across laboratories, resulting in one set of reference values. The data are electronically transferred to a central computer from which they are send in any desired format to the trial organizer's database. Participating laboratories are obliged to work towards accreditation. The VCL acts as a central counterpart for both the pharmaceutical industry and local laboratories. The concept offers advantages to the pharmaceutical industry, the investigator and local laboratories.     

The nuclear education and staffing challenge: Rebuilding critical skills in nuclear science and technology

Summary The U.S. Department of Energy supports 24 fellowships for students to attend six-week programs at either San Jose State University in California, or Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) in New York. The American Chemical Society through the Division of Nuclear Science and Technology operates both schools. The twelve students at the BNL program are enrolled in the State University of New York at Stony Brook (SUNYSB) and receive 3 college credits for the lecture course (CHE-361) and 3 additional credits for the laboratory course (CHE-362). In addition to lectures and laboratories, students tour various nuclear facilities offsite, at BNL, and at SUNYSB. Opportunities are given the students to interact with faculty and scientists within the profession through the Guest Lecture Program. Further details are discussed along with results of student surveys for the years 1999 through 2002.     

Computer systems for laboratory networks and high-performance NMR

Modern computer technology is significantly enhancing the associated tasks of spectroscopic data acquisition and data reduction and analysis. Distributed data processing techniques, particularly laboratory computer networking, are rapidly changing the scientist's ability to optimize results from complex experiments. Optimization of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experimental results requires use of powerful, large-memory (virtual memory preferred) computers with integrated (and supported) high-speed links to magnetic resonance instrumentation. Laboratory architectures with larger computers, in order to extend data reduction capabilities, have facilitated the transition to NMR laboratory computer networking. Examples of a polymer microstructure analysis and in vivo 31P metabolic analysis are given. This paper also discusses laboratory data processing trends anticipated over the next 5-10 years. Full networking of NMR laboratories is just now becoming a reality.     

Digital video clips for improved pedagogy and illustration of scientific research — with illustrative video clips on atomic spectrometry

This article is an electronic publication in Spectrochimica Acta Electronica (SAE), a section of Spectrochimica Acta Part B (SAB). The hardcopy text is accompanied by an electronic archive, stored on the CD-ROM accompanying this issue. The archive contains video clips. The main article discusses the scientific aspects of the subject and explains the purpose of the video files. Short, 15–30 s, digital video clips are easily controllable at the computer keyboard, which gives a speaker the ability to show fine details through the use of slow motion. Also, they are easily accessed from the computer hard drive for rapid extemporaneous presentation. In addition, they are easily transferred to the Internet for dissemination. From a pedagogical point of view, the act of making a video clip by a student allows for development of powers of observation, while the availability of the technology to make digital video clips gives a teacher the flexibility to demonstrate scientific concepts that would otherwise have to be done as ‘live’ demonstrations, with all the likely attendant misadventures. Our experience with digital video clips has been through their use in computer-based presentations by undergraduate and graduate students in analytical chemistry classes, and by high school and middle school teachers and their students in a variety of science and non-science classes. In physics teaching laboratories, we have used the hardware to capture digital video clips of dynamic processes, such as projectiles and pendulums, for later mathematical analysis.     

Education: A modular approach to microfluidics in the teaching laboratory

This article seeks to educate the reader about the role played by the microfluidics teaching lab in the education of science, technology, engineering and mathematics for students of all ages. The discussion is intended to serve as a general guide to educators about the lab philosophy, goals, lab experiments and required equipment and reagents necessary for a successful microfluidics teaching laboratory. We hope that this article will stimulate other groups and companies to describe what they are doing to encourage education in this sector. At LabSmith we have developed a modular approach for teaching and demonstrating microfluidics that allows the end user to tailor the laboratory to course goals without an impact on the package of experimental equipment required and available to them. Thus, it is possible to educate students either in the art of microfluidics or use microfluidics to educate students about fundamental physical, chemical, or biological principles. The laboratory experiments discussed here are for students with educational experience at high school, undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels.     

Novel Pulsed Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Techniques for the Studies of Structure and Dynamics of Photo‐excited Triplet State of Organic Molecules: A Professional Journey

We present a few novel pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance techniques developed in our laboratory for the studies of structure and dynamics of the photo‐excited triplet state of organic molecules. We discuss many aspects of these new techniques and the significances of these measurements: (1) enhancing NMR signal intensity by dynamic nuclear polarization ‐ integrated solid effect, (2) performing magnetic resonance in zero‐field and low‐field by pulsed microwave, (3) mapping molecular motion of organic crystals by pulsed zero‐field and low‐field experiments, (4) probing spin dynamics at level anti‐crossing by fast field switching, (5) measuring hyperfine interaction by electron spin echo envelop modulation and spin‐echo electron nuclear double resonance and (6) detecting spin dynamics, nuclear quantum oscillation, entanglements and new avenues for quantum computer. We have employed the highly electron spin polarized pentacene triplet state as the model system in all of our pulsed EPR experiments. We performed most of our experiments at room temperature. The goals of our studies are aiming to improve spin detectability, to probe molecular dynamics, to determine electronic structures, to measure molecular interaction and motion, and to examine quantum coherence and oscillation which may yield new avenues in the applications of pulsed EPR techniques to quantum computer.     

Nanostructures in Physical Materials Chemistry: An Exploratory Laboratory

The blend of nanotechnology and material science is often beyond the scope of undergraduate laboratories. Through undergraduate research, graphite-intercalated compounds have been incorporated in the production of carbon-based nanostructures. Based on this work a series of exploratory exercises were designed for the undergraduate physical chemistry laboratory emphasizing nanostructure material science. This rapidly expanding area of science and technology can be introduced at an undergraduate level using a high temperature oven to produce nanostructure samples that are analyzed by Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy at research university laboratories, infrared spectroscopy, and a bomb calorimeter. In these experiments we use samples of pure graphite, fluorinated graphite, and lanthanum oxide to induce the formation of nanostructures. An overview of fullerenes, nanotubes, boron nitride and Si nanostructures, other carbon forms, graphite-intercalated compounds, and the storage of hydrogen in nanotubes are provided in an appendix. Several extensions of the laboratory are proposed.     

“学案式”基础化学实验报告探讨与实践

Lab reports are an integral part of the fundamental chemical laboratory teaching and necessary for students to master the chemical knowledge. However, there are some problems such as simple contents in current teaching and learning of fundamental chemistry laboratories in universities. In this paper, a "learning-guidance mode" lab report based on classical experiments was studied to enrich the format and contents of the lab report. Upon examination, the contents of the "learning-guidance mode" lab report throughout every aspect and whole process of laboratory teaching can help students to establish self-learning consciousness and improve self-learning ability and exploration spirit. Meanwhile, it can also train students to possess capability of scientific thinking and solving problems, thus enhancing the effect of teaching of fundamental chemistry laboratory.     

Multimedia encyclopedia of nuclear science

We are developing a multimedia encyclopedia that provides a framework for students to leam nuclear science. A variety of media formats are used to present concepts, including text, static figures, animations, and video. Two special prsentation formats use dynamically produced simulations to expose students to nuclear science relationships. These media types provide greater interactivity and flexibility than simple animations. Students access information through tutorials, a dictionary of nuclear science terms, biographies of notable scientists, and a timeline of nuclear science history. The tutorial organization emphasizes the interrelationships among topics. We present an overview of the encyclopedia.     

U-G-S模式在化学实验教育协同创新中的应用

重视实验教育是培养化学创新人才的必由之路。在分析当今化学实验教育诸多瓶颈问题的基础上,本文提出引入U-G-S模式集合高等师范院校、中学和政府力量共同促进化学实验教育的协同创新,并通过分享代表案例总结了U-G-S模式下化学实验教育创新与化学实验教育人才培养的经验,为科学实验教育在更大范围内的协同创新提供了有价值的参考。     

The current state of analytical control in Lithuania

In Lithuania research and development in chemical analysis are concentrated in scientific institutes and universities. The main fields of interest focus on biosensors, electrochemical sensors, sampling techniques and methods, study of atomization processes in spectrochemical analysis and noise evaluation in analytical measurements. Some laboratories also take part in international environmental monitoring programmes. There are about 50 researchers at the Ph.D. level engaged in analytical chemistry and several hundred technicians specialized in the field of analytical control. About one hundred chemical laboratories are active in scientific institutes, universities and factories. Specialized laboratories of chemical analysis are at the disposal of Environmental Control and Health Protection Departments and forensic investigation organizations. So far no laboratories are accredited according to the ISO 9000 norms. Special courses on analytical chemistry are offered at a few schools of higher education in the country. Only at the Department of Analytical Chemistry of the University of Vilnius specialized programmes are available to postgraduate students working towards a Ph.D. to improve their skills in current techniques of analytical chemistry. Recently the Technical Committee TC-16 for Chemical Analysis was formed within the standardization system of Lithuania. Its main activities are centered on issues such as national terminology, certified reference materials (CRMs), analytical methods and analytical quality assurance. There are numerous problems related to national terminology, the preparation of special documents in the field of analytical control and the production of regional environmental CRMs. Problems, also arise in obtaining and using CRMs for analytical instrument calibration and validation.     

Nuclear science summer school for high school students

We have developed a two-week summer lecture and laboratory course that introduces high school students to concepts in nuclear science. The program has operated at the San Jose State University Nuclear Science Facility for two years. Experienced high school science teachers run the summer school, assisted by other science teachers. Students consider the program to be effective. Its popularity is shown by numerous requests for reservations and the necessity to offer multiple sections in 1997. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A0553010 00006     

Radiochemistry at the University of Missouri-Columbia: A joint venture with chemistry,nuclear engineering,molecular biology,biochemistry, and the Missouri University Research Reactor (MURR)

Summary The United States, the Department of Energy (DOE) and its National Laboratories, including the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), are facing a serious attrition of nuclear scientists and engineers and their capabilities through the effects of aging staff. Within the DOE laboratories, 75% of nuclear personnel will be eligible to retire by 2010. It is expected that there will be a significant loss of senior nuclear science and technology staff at PNNL within five years. PNNL's nuclear legacy is firmly rooted in the DOE Hanford site, the World War II Manhattan Project, and subsequent programs. Historically, PNNL was a laboratory where 70% of its activities were nuclear/radiological, and now just under 50% of its current business science and technology are nuclear and radiologically oriented. Programs in the areas of nuclear legacies, global security, nonproliferation, homeland security and national defense, radiobiology and nuclear energy still involve more than 1,000 of the 3,800 current laboratory staff, and these include more than 420 staff who are certified as nuclear/radiological scientists and engineers. This paper presents the current challenges faced by PNNL that require an emerging strategy to solve the nuclear staffing issues through the maintenance and replenishment of the human nuclear capital needed to support PNNL nuclear science and technology programs.     

Nuclear forensics education at the University of Texas at Austin

Nuclear forensics continues to be an integral part of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the National Nuclear Security Administration. As with our previous three-year Nuclear Forensics Education Award Program we will continue to offer a comprehensive educational program and closely collaborate with national laboratories to pursue common research. Our research will primarily focus on analysis of radioactive debris following a nuclear or radiological dispersive device event or the investigation of the pedigree of nuclear materials in nonproliferation. This research will include using Compton suppression and gamma coincidence low-level gamma ray counting, investigation of nuclear fuel cycles for nonproliferation, on-site inspection within the context of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and radioxenon detection physics. We also offer a graduate program in nuclear robotics, an interdisciplinary program in the automation of handling special nuclear materials. To better equip our students who are entering the workforce at the national laboratories and government agencies we are also proposing the development of several new laboratory modules for non-destructive identification of fission products in environmental samples and irradiated uranium specimens at various enrichments and characterizing naturally occurring radioactive material. Collaboration with Florida Memorial University a Historically Black Colleges and Universities will continue for training and collaborative research.     

Activities to foster training in nuclear and radiochemistry from IACS,IAEA-Vienna

Summary Given the mismatch between supply of and demand for nuclear scientists, education in nuclear and radiochemistry has become a serious concern. The Nuclear and Radiochemistry in Chemistry Education (NRIChEd) Curriculum Project was undertaken to reintroduce the topics normally covered in a one-semester radiochemistry course into the traditional courses of a four-year chemistry major: general chemistry, organic chemistry, quantitative and instrumental analysis, and physical chemistry. NRIChEd uses a three-pronged approach that incorporates radiochemistry topics when related topics in the basic courses are covered, presents special topics of general interest as a vehicle for teaching nuclear and radiochemistry alongside traditional chemistry, and incorporates the use of non-licensed amounts of radioactive substances in demonstrations and student laboratory experiments. This approach seeks not only to reestablish nuclear science in the chemistry curriculum, but to use it as a tool for elucidating fundamental and applied aspects of chemistry as well. Moreover, because of its relevance in many academic areas, nuclear science enriches the chemistry curriculum by encouraging interdisciplinary thinking and problem solving.     

研究性与系统性相结合的有机合成实验教学实践

为了培养学生的创新能力和实践能力,使学生较全面地掌握有机合成实验理论知识和实验技能,开展了有机合成实验研究性和系统性结合的教学探索和实践。在课程建设和教学过程中,贯彻以学生为主体的教学改革思路与方法。从教学内容和模式、授课方式、考核方式等多个教学环节进行探索研究,科教融合,结合实际课堂教学,倡导启发式教学方法。研究型教学模式的实施有效地调动了学生自主研究性学习的积极性,有利于提高学生的综合实践能力,促进实验教学与科学研究的衔接。     

Laboratory of nuclear analysis and control methods with a special purpose reactor

Requirements for nuclear analysis and control laboratories are discussed. Such laboratories are intended for analysis and control of natural and industrial materials which can be used in mass production. An activation analysis laboratory is described, with a capability of about 4·10⁵ analyses per year. The laboratory is equipped with an automatic system and special purpose small size solution reactor.     

Fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis in the separation, analysis, and sequencing of carbohydrates

Carbohydrate analysis has traditionally been viewed as a specialty science, performed only in a few well-established laboratories using conventional carbohydrate analysis technology (e.g. NMR, gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis) combined with the specialized technical training that has been essential for accurate interpretation of the data. This tradition of specialized laboratories is changing, due primarily to an increase in the number of scientists performing routine carbohydrate analysis. As a result, many scientists who are not trained in traditional carbohydrate analytical techniques now need to be able to perform accurate carbohydrate analysis in their own laboratories. This has created a need for technically simple and inexpensive methods of carbohydrate analysis. In this review, we present application vignettes of a technically simple, yet analytically powerful method called fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis (FACE). FACE can be used for performing routine oligosaccharide profiling, monosaccharide analysis, and sequencing of a variety of carbohydrates.     

The American Chemical Society's Division of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology's summer schools in nuclear and radiochemistry

This successful educational program in nuclear and radiochemistry for advanced undergraduate students is described. Funding from the U.S. Department of Energy supports 24 fellowships for participants in the intensive six-week programs at San Jose State University (CA) and Brookhaven National Laboratory (NY). Students are provided transportation to and from the school site, room and board, books, lab supplies, and six units of college credit. The instructional program consists of lectures and laboratory exercises that cover the fundamentals of nuclear theory, radiochemistry, nuclear instrumentation, radiological safety, and applications in research, midicine, and industry. Guest lectures and field trips broaden the students' exposure to nuclear science. Assistance is provided in the following year to those students who wish to join a research project at a university or national laboratory, and thereafter, in their applications to graduate or professional school.