Projects supported by the nsf division of undergraduate education

edited bv

Highlights ~~ ~~~

SUSAN H. HIXS'~ National Science Foundation

Arlington, VA 22230

CURTIS T. SEARS, JR. Georgia State University

Atlanta, GA 30303

Projects supported by the NSF Division of Undergraduate Education

Workshop Opportunities for Faculty

Grants made under the Undergraduate Faculty En- hancement (UFE) P r o a a m to s u ~ o o r t worksho~s. short . . . . courses, and similar activities for groups of faculty members have been announced. The aim of the UFE program is meet the need of faculty members who teach undergraduates to keep abreast of recent advances in their discipline, . . gain experience with new experimental techniques, and to incorporate these developments into the curriculum. Activ- ities specifically designed for chemists are listed first, fol- lowed by those primarily intended for faculty in other dis- ciolines but likelv to he of interest to manv chemistrv fak l ty also. ~dd i t iona l information about w&kshops a n i a~olication materials should be reauested directlv from t& contact person listed for each The ~ a t i o n a l Sci- ence Foundation cannot provide such assistance. In some instances, workshop dates and application deadlines were not available a t presstime: contact the oroiect director for . - this information.

Those interested in submitting proposals to conduct activities consistent with the aims of the Undergraduate Faculty Enhancement program are reminded that the closing date for submission is will be approximately May 1, 1995, for projects that will operate in 1996. The Program Announcement and Guidelines for Proposal Preoaration is available on the NSF electronic disiemination system (STIS) or by calling (703)306-1669.

Carroll College Waukesha, WI 53186

A Real-World Model for lntroductory Chemistry Laboratory Curricula

The project provides funds for four workshop sessions to introduce participants to the use of "real-world chemistry" in their laboratory courses. An existing set of experiments-familiar to and preferred by individual instructors-is placed into real-world context appropriate for the local community. Students become "chemist employees" in the laboratorv of a local organization or industrv and work on these cxperments refomluliucd :I.; current prolects ol that oreanimtion's laborator\: The -transfurm;uion Droc- ess" describes how science teachers without real-worid experience can search out chemists in their local area and bbtain useful scenarios that can he added to existing introductory experiments. The process has provided an enthu- siastic response from students and motivation for further consideration of careers in science. Dates: June 12-14, July 20-22, and August 7-9,1995 Contact

Richard E. Bayer

Application Deadline: three weeks prior to workshop

Central Missouri State University Warrensburg, MO 64093

A I-week workshop will be held for undergraduate faculty from 2- and 4-year institutions in Arkansas, Okla- homa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa with little experience in FT-NMR. The workshop will consist of lectures, instrument use, and data analysis and will cover topics ranging from beginning NMR theory to pulse se- quences and two-dimensional NMR. Hands-on experience will be gained on a JEOL 270-MHz FT-NMR. A 6orkshop handbook containing a large number of soectra will be ore- pared for each part;cipanr. Follow-up aEtivities include a meeting a t the Midwest Regional American Chemical Soci- ety meeting in November 1995. Reports prepared by participants about their use of the information gained from this workshop will be collected, edited, assembled, bound, and distributed to all institutions of higher education in the six-state region. Date: May 21-26.1995 Contact

Robert L. Zey Department of Chemistry Phone: 8161543-8745 FAX: 8161543-8277

Application Deadline: February 15, 1995

Clemson University Clemson, SC 29634.5102

Cooperative Chemistry Laboratories

This project will acquaint faculty, general chemistry co- ordinators, and lab directors with the theory and practice of coo~erative learning in the general chemistrv labora- - tory. &operative modes of instruction with success in improving student attitudes toward chemistry, persist- ence and learning have been developed a t Clemson Uni- versity. These methods use a new set of laboratory software, SuperChemLah, for the project-style laboratory exercises, which will be available to participants for their own applications. The workshop assumes that participants will adapt and adopt the cooperative learning mode for their own laboratones, and several features of the program, including hands-on experience, are aimed a t facili- tating this process. Instructors' manuals, texts, and back- ground materials will be provided and considered in small groups during the workshop. Date: call contact Contact

Melanie M. Cooper Department of Chemistry Phone. 8031656-2573 Fax: 8031656-6613 E-mail: [email protected]

Application Deadline: call contact

158 Journal of Chemical Education

Clemson University Clemson, SC 29634-5702

Workshops at the 14th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education

Six workshops, 2-3 days' duration each, will be held in Aueust 1996. a t Clemson Universitv on the weekend ~ r i o r to the 14th ~iennial ' Conference on Chemical Educition, also to he held at Clemson. A total of 108 facultv will have the opportunity to attend the followmg workshops Cheml- cal Educat~on Ilesearch (D~ane Runce, Cathol~c Universitv and Dorothy Gabel, 1ndiana university), ~ a b o r a t o r y Teaching and Assessment (Melanie Cooper, Clemson Uni- versity and Robert Silberman, SUNY at Cortland), High- field NMR Spectroscopy (Wendall Jennings, Montana State University and Aleksandr Kitaygorodskiy, Clemson University), X-Ray Crystallography (Wallace Cordes, Uni- versitv of Arkansas and Clinton B ~ a n . Cameron Univer- sity), ass Spectrometry (Kenneth M ~ ~ C U S , Clemson Uni- versitv). or Polvmers and Polvmer Processine (Michael ~ r e w i , ~ i c h a e i ~ l l i s o n and ~ i r y Lickfield, ~ l e k s o u Uni- versity). Date: August 24,1995 Contact

William 'I! Penningtan Department of Chemistry Phone: 8031656-4200 FAX: 8031656-6613; E-mail: [email protected]

Application Deadline: March 1, 1995

Sinclair Community College Dayton, OH 45402

Instrumentation Workshops for 2-Year College Chemistry Faculty

Faculty from 2-year colleges across the United States will be trained on the theory. techniques and laboratow use of state-of-the-art chemical inst-entation in a series of 1-week workshops. For each of two summers, 11 workshops will be offered: one on the East Coast, sponsored by Northern Virginia Community College and George Mason University; four in the Midwest, sponsored by Sinclair Community College and the University of Dayton; and three on the West Coast. soonsored bv Shoreline Commu- nity College and western kshington.L'nwersity. Atotal of 141 2-vear college farultv will be mvolved as oarticioants. They &I select k r u c t i k from among atomi'c absorption, flame emission, nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier- transform infrared, ultraviolet/visible diode array, and gas chromatography maid spcciroscopies; vapor phase and high-perlbrmancr liquid chromato~~aphy; computerned data acquisition and treatment; and electrochemical methods. Date: call contact Contact

Richard F. Jones Department of Chemistry Phone: 5131226-7907 FAX: 513144915164; E-mail: [email protected]


Georgia State University Atlanta, GA 30303

A Series of Workshops in Chemistry for Undergraduate Faculty

Workshop topics include advanced materials in chemistry, chemistry of nucleic acids, environmental chemistry, molecular modeling, molecular orbital theory, multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance, multimedia tech-

niques in chemistry, and optimal experimental design and statistical analysis. The minicourses include oxygen chemistry and organometallic chemistry or biocatalysis. Re- cruitment of participants is to be on a national basis. Dates

Mini Course in Biocatalysis: March 24-26, 1995 Multimedia Techniques: June 11-16,1995 Environmental Chemistry: June 11-16,1995 Advanced Materials Chemistry: TBA Molecular Modeling: TBA Molecular Orbital Theory: December 34,1995 Multidimensional NMR: December 3-8, 1995 1994 Reunion: June 23-25,1995

Contact Jeny C. Smith Department of Chemistry Phone: 404651-3873 FAX: 4041651-1416; E-mail: [email protected]~u.edu


0 Kutztown University Kutztown, PA 19530

LlMSporl Workshops: Promoting Cost-Effective lm~lementation of Cornouter Data Amuisition and Reduction in Chemistry' Laboratories '

The workshop will introduce participants to the LIM- Sport program, a cost-effect implementation of computer data acauisition and reduction in the lahoratorv LIMSonrt

- & ~ - - ~

allows direct data acquisition into a spreadiheet. Since standard hardware and software (Lotus 1-2-31 are used. both the program and the individual student experiment$ can be easily shared. Facultv will have hands-on ex~er i - ence with inierfaclng and an-opportunity to adapt laboratory experiments to the 1.IMSport format. . . Dates: May 2Wune 3 and July 2349,1995 Contact

Edward W. Vitz Department of Physical Science Phone: 6101683.4443 FAX: 6101683-1352; E-mail: [email protected]

Application Deadline: April 14. 1995

University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA 01003

Molecular Modeling

A summer workshop in molecular modeling will be conducted for faculty in New England and eastern New York. No prior knowledge of molecular modeling is needed and assistance will beprovided to pa~tlci~ants-in establishir~g a molecular modelinfi prokvam at their home institutions. Participants will be introduced to molecular mechanics, semi-empirical computation, and ab initio methods, with emohasis on how to use these technioues to teach undergraduate chemistry The strengths an2 limitations of each method will be discusjed and ~anicioants will have hunds- on experience with a variety &software packages. In addi- tion, a symposium for workshop participants and local educators will be held in January 1996 to facilitate discus- sion of experiences with computational chemistry in undergraduate courses. Date: call contact Contact

Beatrice H. Botch Phone: 413/545-4257 E-mail: [email protected]


Volume 72 Number 2 February 1995 159

Montana State University Bozeman, MT 59717

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Mass Spectrometry

This project, which will be offered in 1995,1996 and 1997, consists of a Bweek workshon that eives 20 nersons eachvear - hands-on experience in using modern nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. It is now widely accepted that these two techniques are so powerful and central to chemis- t~ that manv institutions instruct in^ underaaduates in - - chemistry have acquired this instrumentation or are plan- ning to do so. Since the techniques are complementary, they are taught in tandem in this workshop; however, attendees can emphasize one or the other if they wish. Participants will attend lectures, work in groups, conduct experiments and de- vise exercises. Eminent scientists and major vendors of the instrumentation will visit the course and discuss academic and industrial uses of the techniques with participants. Par- ticipants will develop instructional modules for use a t their home institutions and will share them with one another a t the course and by e-mail. The experience will be reinforced through research groups and post-workshop instrument time a t the host institution. Date: July 10-28, 1995 Contact

Edwin H. Abbot Deoartment of Chemistrv ~hbne: 4061994-3163 FAX: 4061994-5407


University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO 80639

Development and Dissemination of Innovative Physical Chemistry Experiments

This project involves developing modern physical chemistry laboratory experiments. Each participant will be asked to present a n outstanding experiment from their home institution, provisions having been made in advance for needed materials and apparatuses. Participants, in nairs of two. will then develon new exoeriments with write-ups for use in their home institutions, which will be nresented to and tested bv the whole eroun. I t is exoected - *

that experiments involving modern instrumentation (e.g., lasers and computers), experiments that are easily trans- ported, and experiments involving biochemical materials and fast kinetics will be developed. These laboratory exercises will be field tested during the following academic year by a t least four of the participants' institutions and presented a t a symposium organized by the project director a t a national American Chemical Society meeting. Commercial publication of the products will also be ex- plored. Date: June 18-July 7. 1995 Contact

Richard W. Schwenze Department of Chemistry Phone: 3031351-1287 FAX: 3031351-1269 E-mail: rschwenz~goldng8.univnorthca.edu


NMR Concepts Kingston, RI 02881

Workshops in NMR Spectroscopy

NMR Concepts will hold workshops that will improve the ability of faculty to conduct research and teach NMR courses to undergraduates. Each workshop will be 10 days

in length and will consist of NMR lectures, laboratory and problem-solving sessions, keynote speakers, and round ta- ble discussions to aid the faculty in incorporating new knowledge into their research efforts and into courses. The first workshop will focus on the physics of NMR experiments and how raw data are received and processed. The second workshop deals with the interpretation of one-dimensional information received from the instrument, with emphasis on chemical applications. The last workshop cov- ers the most advanced two-dimensional experiments cur- rently being used to solve chemical problems in industry and in academia. An annual reunion will be held for nar- ticipants in these workshops to exchange successes, fail- ures, and ideas for imnrovinrr the imnlementation of these NMR methods in the ~nder~aduate~curriculum. Dates: June 20-30, July 11-21, July 25-August 3,

and August 7-10.1995 Contact

Daniel D. Trafieante PO.Bax1577 Phone: 4011792-2876 FAX: 4011792-2104: E-mail: 100331,704


Southwest Texas State University San Marcos, TX 78666-4616

Polymer Chemistry

This project is designed to enhance the ability of experi- enced faculty members in teaching polymer chemistry, a n area which has become a n integral factor in electronics, space exploration, and medical applications. The 2-year project includes a 2-week intensive residential seminar a t Southwest Texas State University for 20 faculty members selected firm nJlege.: throughout-central ~exss.and a 2-se- rnrstw inrwnship at B~uthwcst 'kxas State University for four of those faculty members, selected on the basis of interest and aptitude. The project also includes trips to national and regional meetings for up to 14 participants and a n ongoing advisory group for continued support. Date: March 31, 1995 Contact

Patrick E. Cassidy


Other Workshops of Interest to Chemists

independent Colleges Office Washington, DC 20036

Project Kaleidoscope Workshops: Programs that Work for Faculty Enrichment

Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL) will offer a series of workshops for undergraduate faculty i n t h e sciences and mathematics during 1995 and 1996. The objectives for these PKAL Worksho~s are (1) to disseminate information on current reform efforts in teaching undergraduate science and mathematics. reforms that have created svstemic change within an institution as well a s improving acourse; (2) to encourage the formation of regional and national networks of faculty concerned with cuniculum reform; and (3) to foster a national environment supports improve- ments in undergraduate science and mathematics. The workshops will focus on revitalizing introductory courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics; science as a liberal art ; interdisciplinary programs; research-based curriculum; and programs for minority student success.

160 Journal of Chemical Education

Date: call contact Contact

Jeame L. Namm Phone: 2021232-1300 FAX: 2021331-1283; E-mail: [email protected]


University of North Carolina-Ashevllle Asheville, NC 28804

UNCA Workstation Workshop

The UNCA Workstation Workshop is a 2-week'introduc- tion to workstation use in science, engmeering, and mathematics education. The workshops are desiwed for facultv in smaller departments who "se works<ations i n theG teaching and must provide much of their own computer support. The goal of each workshop is to show participants how effectively to use a workstation connected to the NSFnet. Participants will learn how to use Unix file utili- ties, write simple programs and command procedures, navigate the Internet, install programs obtained over the Internet, solve classroom problems using symbolic computation. assemble a reliable local area network. and manaee a small workstation laboratory. The workshop is taught yn a networked workstation laboratory in which each student has hisher own workstation or X-terminal. Teaching is h i ~ h l v interactive and freauentlv alternates between lec- tu;e and lab. Date: June 12-23 and July 17-28,1995 Contact

J. Dean Brock Department of Computer Science Phone: 1041251-6446 FAX: 7041251-6041; E-mail: [email protected]

Application Deadline: April 1, 1995

University of Pittsburgh-Oakland Pittsburgh, PA 15260

National Chautauqua Workshop Program

The National Chautauaua Proeram is nrovidine an annual series of workshops in whic<scholak at the fFontiers of various sciences and eneineerin~ fields meet for several - - days with undergraduate college science and engineering facultv. these workshops will provide an op~ortunitv for in- vitedscholars to cokmunicke new ~ ~ G E e p t s aid techniques directly to college faculty in ways that are immedi- ately beneficial to their teaching. The primary aim is to enable undergraduate faculty in the sciences and engineering to keep their teaching current and relevant. Date: Various Contact

Nicholas G. Eror Department ol'Materials Science I'hane 412 624-1256 PAX: 412fi24-1108; E-marl: [email protected]~tt.edu

Application Deadline: 6 weeks prior to workshop

University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS 39406

Molecular and Cellular Biosciences for Mississippi Colleges and Universities

Molecular and Cellular Biosciences workshops will be conducted under the supervision of the project's coordinat- ine committee bv chairs or co-chairs who are recoenized as experts within the topical area of the workshop: Each of these workshops will feature lectures pertinent to the topic hy nationally ;en,gnired sc~cntists (these lectures will'be open to general aud~enres,. Other workshop activiti~s will

include demonstrations, topical discussions, as well as par- ticipation in hands-on laboratory experiments. Partici- pants (20 for each workshop, selected by the coordinating committee) will be eligible to compete for "minigrants" of up to $1,000 to develop lecture or laboratory material or methods for incorporation of information presented into their cumcula. Workshop co-chairs will be available for follow-up visits to institutions in the coalition. At the con- clusion of the project, a 2-day reunion workshop will be held, a t which participants from all workshops will be in- vited to make presentation or participate in discussions describing the various ways in which information and skills learned from the workshops have been incorporated into their curricula. Dates: May I s 1 9 and August 7-11,1995 Contact:

Bobby L. Middlebrooks Deoartment of Bioloeical Sciences ~hbne: 60~266-4748; FAX: 60U266-5289

Application Deadline: April 1995

Temple University Philadelphia, PA 19122

Environmental Workshop on Ozone Depletion and the Greenhouse Effect

Workshops will be held for 20 faculty each on the topics of ozone depletion and the Greenhouse Effect. The audi- ences will de 20 faculty from undergraduate institutions and 20 from community colleges in the Philadelphia area. These current topics can be incorporated into curricula in several science departments. The workshops will provide the participants with hands-on experience with detection equipment used in the field. The participants will also re- ceive in-depth lectures on the science relevant to the two topics and will discuss society's responses to these environmental challenges through ?egislation and court decisions and the portrayal of these issues in the mass media. One- day follow-up workshops will be conducted for each of the two groups and evaluations will be done a t each workshop. Dates: March 22-24 and June 2.9 & 16.1995 Contact

Leroy W. Dubeck Department of Interdisciplinary Studies Phone: 2151204-7630; FAX: 2151204.5652

Application Deadline: February 12, 1995 8. TBA

Washington Center for Undergraduate Education

Washington Center Interdisciplinary Science Faculry Development Project

Workshops will he offered aimed a t helping faculty learn about new advances in their disciplines and new ways to incornorate these into their classes. Each institute will be residkntial and have 30 faculty participants. Follow-up activities include a 2-dav retreat. involvement in oneoine - - Washington Center activities, a i d communication among the participants through the Internet and written publica- tions. The workshops are miniature versions of some of the most successful interdisciplinary programs in the state. They provide a "high challenge" cumculum and are based upon pedagogical principles that are recommended by an increasingly convergent literature on improving education in the sciences. Dates: June 23-30 and July 29-August 5.1995 Contact ~~~-~

Jean McGregor Phone: 2061866-6000, ext. 6608 FAX: 2061866-6794: E-mail: [email protected] - -

Application Deadline: May 1, 1995

Volume 72 Number 2 February 1995 161

Documents

Projects supported by the nsf division of undergraduate education