Experiments and Research Opportunities in a Special Section of General Chemistry for high ability students

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This project focuses substantial resources on a small set of highly capable first-year students to inspire a greater fraction of them to pursue research careers in science and engineering. Chemistry is the ideal course for this because most science and engineering majors take it in their first year; physics and engineering courses begin later. In 1990-91, we developed an intensive first-year chemistry course for 40 of the very best new students in a class of 5000. The course introduces state-of-the-art chemical thought as early and as often as possible. The cornerstone of the course is the Spring research project, in which pairs of students engage in hands-on research in the laboratories of chemistry professors. Student response to the course was overwhelmingly positive. Eleven of the 25 students who participated planned to continue research projects this Fall. This project will enhance the research experience and the laboratories. This model course may convince other universities to focus more resources on the very best science and engineering students in the critical first year.