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

管理分水岭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。该项目将真实的基于研究的实验室经验结合到本科化学课程中，突出环境测试、分水岭可持续性和当前的研究主题。这项工作的目标是1)提高学生对化学的兴趣和技能，2)增加普通化学课程与现实世界的相关性，3)加强两个外展项目，一个涉及中学生，另一个涉及Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College，通过将环境测试单位纳入他们的项目，4)通过额外的仪器和培训改善本科生的环境、化学和毒理学研究，5)为社区增加关于密歇根中部地区环境污染物的数据和信息。在化学专业的一年级和二年级实验室以及非专业学生和准备成为K-8教师的学生中，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抽样方法，并直接在靠近中央密歇根大学(CMU)主校区的奇佩瓦河和位于密歇根湖西岸几英里外的CMU比弗岛设施直接收集样本。当地河流和土壤的分析结果由学生向公众公布，如果发现有害水平，将报告给密歇根州环境质量部。本科生也是一个研究项目的一部分，该项目涉及印迹树脂在废水修复中的使用。通过仪器更新培训，加深学生的分析仪器知识，从而提高学生的研究经验。有了这些准备，学生们能够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。课程改革的影响将由系外的评估员进行评估。该评估将确定研究人员开发的增强的实验室程序的有效性和易用性，以及它们对学生学习收益和对化学的兴趣的影响。智力价值：该项目通过在现有课程中实施选定的环境分析，并通过自行设计和基于研究的实验室项目激发学生对化学的兴趣，扩大了CMU的化学项目。广泛的影响：该项目每年直接影响CMU约1000名化学本科生，以及Saginaw Chippewa Tribal学院的20名学生，以及大约40名资优中学生。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州中部地区也是非常需要的，因为这项工作提供了一种工具来监控目前由于州政府财政压力而没有受到监控的“热点”。通过完成实验室体验和观看实际应用，学生应该扩大他们的关键环境意识，并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.