Analytical Instrumentation for an Environmental Studies Program

兰道夫-梅肯学院获得了支持实验室教学和学生研究的仪器，这是一项新的环境研究本科跨学科课程，也是一项久负盛名的化学本科课程。具体地说，我们已经获得了配备了质谱学检测器的毛细管气相色谱仪。该项目的目标包括：将新的环境研究专业的实验室部分建立在坚实的基础上，为通识教育非理科专业的学生提供有趣和科学严谨的实验室体验，并丰富化学专业和未成年人的实验室课程。另一个目标是与地区中学教师建立联系。一个具体目标是将以项目为导向的环境化学实验纳入环境研究实验室入门课程和有机化学课程，以及高级化学实验室课程序列。事实证明，纳入以项目为导向的实验可以提高学生对实验室课程的兴趣，并使学生更好地为环境和/或化学工作场所或研究生课程做好准备。另一个目标是为动机良好的高级环境研究或化学专业的学生提供机会，就水污染和空气污染的高级项目进行原创性研究。第三个目标是向对环境或法医学感兴趣的非科学专业的学生介绍复杂的分析仪器。我们没有意识到GC/MS在低水平的理科或非理科专业(在有机化学课程以下)的使用；我们的目标受众不仅包括环境研究和化学专业的学生和辅修学生，还包括将这些实验室课程作为终极体验的非理科学生。

Randolph-Macon College has obtained instrumentation that supports laboratory instruction and student research in a new undergraduate interdisciplinary program in environmental studies, and also in a well-established and well-respected undergraduate program in chemistry. Specifically, we have obtained a capillary gas chromatograph equipped with a mass-spectrometric detector. The goals of this project include: putting the laboratory component of the new environmental studies major on a firm foundation, providing an interesting and scientifically rigorous laboratory experience for general-education non science majors, and enriching the laboratory curriculum for chemistry majors and minors. Another goal is to establish a connection with regional secondary-school teachers. A specific objective is the incorporation of project-oriented environmental chemistry experiments in the introductory environmental studies laboratory course and in the organic chemistry course, as well as in the advanced chemistry laboratory course sequence. Inclusion of project-oriented experiments has been shown to enhance student interest in laboratory curricula, and to prepare students better for the environmental and/or chemical workplace or graduate program. A further objective is to provide well-motivated senior environmental studies or chemistry majors an opportunity to carry out original research on a senior project in water pollution and air pollution. A third objective is to introduce sophisticated analytical instru- mentation to non science majors interested in environmental or forensic science. We are not aware of the use of GC/MS with lower-level science or non science majors (below the organic chemistry course); our target audience includes not only environmental studies and chemistry majors and minors, but also non science students who take these lab courses as a terminal experience.