Analytical Instrumentation for an Environmental Studies Program

伦道夫-梅肯学院已经获得了仪器，支持实验室教学和学生研究在一个新的本科跨学科计划在环境研究，也在一个完善的和备受尊敬的化学本科课程。具体来说，我们已经获得了一个毛细管气相色谱仪配备了质谱检测器。该项目的目标包括：将新的环境研究专业的实验室组成部分放在坚实的基础上，为普通教育非科学专业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。一个具体的目标是在介绍环境研究实验室课程和有机化学课程，以及在先进的化学实验室课程序列中纳入项目导向的环境化学实验。列入项目导向的实验已被证明，以提高学生的兴趣，实验室课程，并准备学生更好地为环境和/或化学工作场所或研究生课程。另一个目标是提供积极的高级环境研究或化学专业的机会，在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科学或法医学感兴趣的非科学专业学生介绍复杂的分析方法。我们不知道使用GC/MS与较低水平的科学或非科学专业（低于有机化学课程）;我们的目标受众不仅包括环境研究和化学专业和未成年人，而且还采取这些实验室课程作为终端体验的非科学学生。

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.