Enhancing Undergraduate Chemistry Education through Incorporation of Research-based Environmental Experiments

分水岭的管理和自然资源的可持续性需要对学生进行环境化学科学方面的培训。这个项目结合了真实的研究型实验室经验，突出了环境测试、流域可持续性和当前的研究课题，融入了本科化学课程。这项工作的目标是：1)提高学生对化学的兴趣和技能；2)提高普通化学课程与现实世界的相关性；3)通过将环境测试单元纳入课程，加强两个扩展项目，一个涉及中学生，另一个涉及萨吉诺奇佩瓦部落学院；4)通过额外的仪器和培训，提高本科生的环境、化学和毒理学研究。5)为社区增加密歇根中部地区环境污染物的数据和信息。在大一和大二的化学专业、非专业和准备成为K-8教师的学生的实验室里，学生们正在研究水和土壤中的环境有毒物质，包括：金属离子（汞、镉、铅和铬）和其他污染物（硝酸盐、亚硝酸盐、磷酸盐和溶解氧）。在两个地点的实施使学生有机会学习采样方法，并在靠近中密歇根大学（CMU）主校区的Chippewa河和位于密歇根湖西岸几英里外的CMU比弗岛设施直接实际收集样本。当地河流和土壤的分析结果由学生向公众展示，如果发现有害水平，将报告给密歇根环境质量部。本科生还参与了一个研究项目，该项目涉及在废水修复中使用印迹树脂。通过仪器进修培训，加深学生的分析仪器知识，提高学生的研究经验。有了这些准备，学生们就能集中精力发展研究思路，实施必要的实验，分析数据，并最终展示他们的结果。课程调整的效果将由系外的评估人员评估。评估将确定研究者开发的强化实验室程序的有效性和实施的便利性，以及它们对学生学习成果和化学兴趣的影响。智力优势：该项目通过在现有课程中实施选定的环境分析，并通过自主设计和基于研究的实验室项目激发学生对化学的兴趣，扩展了CMU的化学课程。更广泛的影响：每年该项目直接影响大约1000名CMU化学专业的本科生，20名Saginaw Chippewa部落学院的学生，以及大约40名有天赋的中学生。社区成员随时了解学生获得的有关环境污染的最新数据。不仅学生们参与了研究，而且这项研究在密歇根中部地区非常需要，因为这项工作提供了一种监测“热点”的工具，而这些“热点”目前由于该州的财政压力而没有得到监测。通过完成实验室体验和看到现实生活中的应用，学生们有望扩大他们的批判环境意识，激发他们对化学的兴趣。

Chemistry (12)Stewardship of the watershed and sustainability of natural resources requires training of students in the science of Environmental Chemistry. This project incorporates authentic research-based laboratory experiences that highlight environmental testing, watershed sustainability, and current research topics into undergraduate chemistry courses. The goals of this work are to 1) increase interest and skills of students in chemistry, 2) increase real-world relevancy in general chemistry courses, 3) enhance two outreach programs, one involving middle school children and one involving the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College, by incorporating environmental testing units into their programs, 4) improve undergraduate environmental, chemical, and toxicology research by additional instrumentation and training, 5) increase data and information on environmental contaminants in the mid-Michigan area for the community. In freshman and sophomore laboratories for chemistry majors as well as non-majors and students preparing to be K-8 teachers, students are studying environmental toxic entities in water and soil including: metal ions (mercury, cadmium, lead, and chromium) and other contaminants (nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, and dissolved oxygen). Implementation at two locations gives students the opportunity to study sampling methodology and actually collect samples directly at the Chippewa River close to the Central Michigan University (CMU) main campus and at the CMU Beaver Island facility located several miles off the western shore of Lake Michigan. The results of the analyses of local rivers and soils are presented to the public by students, and harmful levels, if found, are reported to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Undergraduate students also are part of a research project dealing with the use of imprinted resins in wastewater remediation. The students' research experience is enhanced by instrument refresher training to deepen their analytical instrumentation knowledge. With that preparation the students are able to concentrate on developing research ideas, implementing necessary experiments, analyzing data, and ultimately presenting their results. The effects of the curricular changes will be assessed by an evaluator external to the department. The assessment will determine the efficacy and ease of implementation of the enhanced laboratory procedures developed by the investigators, and their impacts on student learning gains and interest in chemistry.Intellectual Merit: The project expands the chemistry program at CMU by implementing selected environmental analyses into the existing curricula and motivating student interest in chemistry with self-designed and research-based laboratory projects.Broader Impacts: Each year this project directly impacts about 1000 undergraduate students in chemistry at CMU, as well as 20 students at the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College, and approximately 40 gifted middle school students. Community members are kept abreast of current data on environmental contamination obtained by the students. Not only are the students participating in research, but it is a research that is much needed in the mid-Michigan area since this work provides a tool for monitoring 'hotspots ' that are not currently being monitored due to financial strains on the State. By completing the laboratory experiences and seeing real-life applications, students are expected to expand their critical environmental awareness and motivate their interest in chemistry.