Dabrowski and McManamy鈥檚 recently published Journal of Chemical Education article 鈥溾�� investigates the framework for teaching and assessing this approach. Student learning was assessed through both presentation and exam formats for application and comprehension, respectively, with evaluation of student proficiency being measured by a series of assessment administrators including instructors, peers, self, and a panel consisting of 黑料不打烊 chemistry faculty.

Data from this study suggest that a group project consisting of designing, performing, and communicating the scientific method through the modification of a recipe is an effective means of increasing student comprehension and their ability to apply the scientific method. This was true across both the one-month January term and the full-semester course formats. Notably, this work also highlights the importance of recognizing and acknowledging that differences in assessment methods can influence the perceived performance of students from different grade levels in project-based learning assignments.

鈥淭he Journal of Chemical Education is the official journal of the Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society, co-published with the American Chemical Society Publications Division. Launched in 1924, the Journal of Chemical Education is the world鈥檚 premier chemical education journal. The Journal publishes peer-reviewed articles and related information as a resource to those in the field of chemical education and to those institutions that serve them. JCE typically addresses chemical content, activities, laboratory experiments, instructional methods, and pedagogies. The Journal serves as a means of communication among people across the world who are interested in the teaching and learning of chemistry. This includes instructors of chemistry from middle school through graduate school, professional staff who support these teaching activities, as well as some scientists in commerce, industry, and government.鈥� 鈥� Journal of Chemical Education. (accessed March 31, 2021).

Department Awards

Senior Achievement awards were bestowed by the mentors of the graduating chemistry and biochemistry seniors who exemplified the diligence, curiosity, passion and scholarship of their respective majors and who have achieved the highest academic performance. This year鈥檚 award recipients were:

Avery Hatch (biochemistry major, Lumen Scholar [Clar lab]): Senior Biochemistry Achievement Award

Annaliese McFarlane (chemistry major [Sienerth lab]): Senior Chemistry Achievement Award

In addition to their award, each received a hand chosen book from their research mentor that best exemplified their ambitions and provided guidance for their future endeavors after 黑料不打烊.

The department also recognized excellence in achievement of underclassman. Professor of Chemistry Karty announced that the 2020 Eugene Gooch Memorial Organic Chemistry Achievement Award, in memory of 黑料不打烊 chemistry professor Eugene Gooch鈥檚 passion for organic chemistry, went to Liora Wittle ’22 (biochemistry major, 黑料不打烊 College Fellow [Moore lab]) for her outstanding performance. Liora will receive a Merck index along with her award, which contains a compilation of important values for the field and an encyclopedia of chemicals, drugs and biologicals.

Anna Altmann ’22 (chemistry major, Honors Fellow) was recognized for excellence in general chemistry and was honored by Dr. Dan Wright with a virtual unveiling of a certificate for the CRC General Chemistry Achievement Award. Once back on-campus, Altmann will receive the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, a comprehensive reference resource for science research.

In addition, the American Chemical Society Student Affiliate (ACSSA) recognized a student who exemplifies service in myriad forms including as a tutor, lab assistant, holding leadership position(s) in the ACSSA and/or demonstrating a commitment and willingness to contribute to the department as a whole. This year鈥檚 ACSSA Award for Service was bestowed by Paul Weller and went to Jordan DeVries ’20听(psychology major, 黑料不打烊 College & Lumen Fellow [Fleming lab]) for her tireless four years of work in the chemistry stockroom.

National Awards

Professor of Chemistry Kathy Matera revealed that Olivia Duffield ’20 (biochemistry major [Miyamoto lab]) was the recipient of the American Chemical Society Division of Organic Chemistry Undergraduate Award, a national award to recognize a top graduating senior student majoring in either chemistry or biochemistry who has displayed a significant aptitude for the discipline. The student nominee will have demonstrated excellence in organic chemistry based on a combination of research experience, coursework and a desire to pursue a career in chemistry. The student nominee will receive a letter of recognition from the ACS Division of Organic Chemistry and an award certificate signed by the division chair. Awardees who are members of the ACS will also receive membership to the Division of Organic Chemistry; those who are not will receive Affiliate status.

Assistant Professor of Chemistry Jen Dabrowski revealed that Sara Spicker ’20 (biochemistry major [Dabrowski lab]) was the recipient of the American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry Undergraduate Award, a national award to recognize achievement by an undergraduate student in inorganic chemistry and to encourage further study in the field. The student nominee will have demonstrated excellence in inorganic chemistry at the undergraduate level based on any combination of research, coursework, and /or motivation / interest / dedication and should have future plans that include a career in chemistry. The undergraduate student that you have nominated will receive an award certificate from the Division and a letter of commendation from the Division Chair.

The formal celebration ended by honoring the graduating chemistry and biochemistry majors who were inducted into the Phi Lambda Upsilon national chemistry honor society with cords to wear at graduation that represent pH colors (pink and blue). 黑料不打烊鈥檚 chapter president Joel Karty was on hand to recognize the scholarly achievement of the senior inductees: Erin Armstrong, Olivia Duffield, Joey Paturzo, Grayson Clark, Colin Deutsch, Annaliese McFarlane, Cailee Mehta, Chris Adamik, Sara Spicker, John Post, Bailey Gilmore and Avery Hatch.

Congratulations to the Class of 2020!

Towards this end, A. L. Hook Emerging Professor in Science and Mathematics Jen Dabrowski and Senior Lecturer Mary McManamy designed the course Culinary Transformations to connect food and chemistry utilizing the overarching themes of a recipe and the scientific method. Anchoring concepts delineated by the American Chemical Society were linked to a series of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 signature experiential learning components, including hands-on activities and engagement with community partners both on- and off-campus. These efforts were shared with the broader chemistry community in a recent article entitled, 鈥淒esign of Culinary Transformations: A Chemistry Course for Nonscience Majors鈥� in the Journal of Chemical Education.

鈥淭he Journal of Chemical Education is the official journal of the Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society, co-published with the American Chemical Society Publications Division. Launched in 1924, the Journal of Chemical Education is the world鈥檚 premier chemical education journal. The Journal publishes peer-reviewed articles and related information as a resource to those in the field of chemical education and to those institutions that serve them. JCE typically addresses chemical content, activities, laboratory experiments, instructional methods, and pedagogies. The Journal serves as a means of communication among people across the world who are interested in the teaching and learning of chemistry. This includes instructors of chemistry from middle school through graduate school, professional staff who support these teaching activities, as well as some scientists in commerce, industry, and government.鈥� 鈥� Journal of Chemical Education. https://pubs.acs.org/page/jceda8/about.html (accessed April 14, 2020).

This is a persistent challenge since student perceptions of a discipline often impact enrollment and motivation. Recent curriculum changes have led to increases in science course offerings for non-majors, not only to bolster science literacy but also to demonstrate the relevance and impact of science on their everyday lives.

Hook assistant professor Jen Dabrowski recently presented on the pedagogical design of a non-laboratory chemistry course in the Chemical Education session at SERMACS, her talk entitled 鈥淐ulinary transformations: Translating chemistry for non-majors.鈥� Design of this course was conducted in collaboration with Lecturer Mary McManamy.

In her talk, Dabrowski detailed the design of the “Culinary Transformations” course, connecting food and chemistry utilizing the American Chemical Society鈥檚 anchoring concepts and several experiential learning techniques for which 黑料不打烊 is known.

SERMACS is the preeminent regional meeting in the southeast bringing together chemists from across the country. Held Oct. 20鈥�23 in Savannah, Georgia, the following students were selected to present their peer-reviewed undergraduate research:

Erin Armstrong ’20聽(Biochemistry major, Dabrowski lab)

鈥淐omparison of the stereochemical effects on the cyclization of sorbitol and allitol sugars and non-sugar model 1,4-pentanediol utilizing B(C6F5)3 and allylsilane co-catalysis.鈥� (poster presentation)

Sarah Brown ’20听(Biochemistry major, Matera lab)

鈥淎ggregation patterns of insulin and amyloid-beta peptides.鈥� (oral presentation)

Elizabeth Chapman ’20听(Honors fellow, biochemistry major, Matera lab)

鈥淪tabilization of a尾 oligomers using serotonin, indole, and catechol and their effects on DNA.鈥� (poster presentation)

Bailey Gilmore ’20听(黑料不打烊 College fellow, biochemistry major, Matera lab)

鈥淓ffects of cholesterol on amyloid beta aggregation in Alzheimer’s disease.鈥� (oral presentation)

Avery Hatch ’20听(黑料不打烊 College fellow & Lumen scholar, biochemistry major, Clar lab)

鈥淭ransformation of metal oxide nanoparticles in surface coatings: Hazards of inhalation and ingestion during application.鈥� (oral presentation)

Margaret Hughes ’21听(Lumen scholar, biochemistry major, Clar lab)

鈥淎ssessing the release and transformation of metal additives from consumer plastics.鈥� (poster presentation)

John Post ’20听(Biochemistry major, Matera lab)

鈥淚nvestigating the oxidative mechanism leading to atherosclerotic lesions.鈥� (poster presentation)

Eleanor Scimone ’21听(Sustainability Grant recipient, biochemistry major, Dabrowski lab)

鈥淐atalytic cyclization of 1-amino-1-deoxy-d-galactitol towards a renewable alternative to petroleum-based medicines.鈥� (poster presentation)

Put Usaphea Vanna ’20听(Odyssey Program scholar, chemistry major, Dabrowski lab)

鈥淎nalysis of adonitol as a resource for future sustainable consumer products.鈥� (poster presentation)

Research presentations were not the only thing students took part in. Additional experiences included a graduate school/career fair, seminars by preeminent researchers and local cuisine.

The society’s name originates from the three eminent scientists who inspired its creation: Carl Fresenius (P), Justus von Liebig (L) and Jacobus van’t Hoff (U). Inductees were selected based on their excellence in scholarship and character as exhibited in the classroom and research.

This year鈥檚 nominees were:

Jordyn Cowan (biochemistry)

Daniel Heintzelman (chemistry)

Margaret Hughes (biochemistry)

Savannah Kile (biochemistry)

Seth McKee (chemistry)

Natalie Salerno (chemistry)

Kevin Scott (biochemistry)

Connor Smith (biochemistry)

The Gamma Alpha chapter hosted at 黑料不打烊鈥檚 current officers for the 2019-20 academic year, including: Bailey Gilmore (president), Christopher Adamik (vice-president), Cailee Mehta (secretary), and Annaliese McFarlane (treasurer).

Her talk, entitled 鈥淓fforts toward complex small molecule scaffolds from bio-renewable resources,鈥澛爁ocused on a portion of her research program. Small molecules of high complexity are a critical part of the production of modern medicines and materials. Access to these scaffolds has historically been made possible through the development of catalysts that functionalize petroleum-based hydrocarbons 鈥� a finite resource.

Efforts to combine biorenewable resources with catalysis and synthetic methodologies have largely focused on the energy sector. Dabrowski鈥檚 research aims to further develop and utilize catalytic methodologies to enable sustainable alternatives for accessing complex small molecules. Conversion of monosaccharides employing tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane as the catalyst were detailed.

These contributions were disclosed during the WCC鈥揈li Lilly Supporting Women in Chemistry symposium, a session serving to recognize previous winners and celebrate the 30 anniversary of the Women Chemistry Committee/Eli Lilly Travel award. Dabrowski was a 2012 recipient of the award as a graduate student at Boston College.

鈥淩eceiving this award was a transformative experience and greatly shaped my professional trajectory,” Dabrowski said.聽“It was a thrill to be back in San Diego, where I had attended my first national conference seven years prior, and to celebrate the achievements and empowerment of women chemists.鈥�

To-date, Eli Lilly has contributed over $250,000 to fund the first time travel of 700-plus聽young women scientists to present their scientific research at national conferences.

Investigating the intersection of green chemistry, sustainability and food is one means to engage non-science majors in the breadth and impact of chemistry in society and their everyday lives. Analysis of student reflections after discussion of the ACS Green Chemistry Institute’s “Design Principles for Sustainable Green Chemistry & Engineering” and implementation of the ACS GCI case study “Healthier Fats and Oils by Green Chemistry.” were provided. “Helping students realize the power and potential of science in their everyday lives is not only rewarding but critical in today’s global society. We need to have everyone take part in creating and maintaining a sustainable future,“ Dabrowski says.

For the first time, the International Conference on Green and Sustainable Chemistry was combined with the Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference, now in its 23rd year. The latter is hosted by the American Chemical Society’s Green Chemistry Institute and is a meeting ground for advancing sustainable science and solutions. The International Conference on Green and Sustainable Chemistry (GSC) brings the global green chemistry community together every other year to share research and education initiatives. While a wide variety of green chemistry and engineering topics are covered in the technical program each year, this year’s thematic focus on the stages of the chemical life cycle was intended to challenge the green chemistry and engineering communities to move towards a systems-鈥媡hinking approach that will help create a more sustainable future.

Department Awards

Senior Achievement awards were bestowed by the department chair, Karl Sienerth, to the graduating chemistry and biochemistry seniors who exemplified the diligence, curiosity, passion and scholarship of their respective majors and who have achieved the highest academic performance. This year’s award recipients were:

Nick Ciolkowski '19 (biochemistry major, Lumen Scholar [Dabrowski lab]): Senior Biochemistry Achievement Award

Annie Yang '19 (chemistry major [Clar lab]): Senior Chemistry Achievement Award

In addition to their award, each received a hand-chosen book from their research mentor that best exemplified their ambitions and provided guidance for their future endeavors after 黑料不打烊.

In addition, the American Chemical Society Student Affiliate (ACSSA) recognized a student who exemplifies service in myriad forms including as a tutor, lab assistant, holding leadership position(s) in the ACSSA and/or demonstrating a commitment and willingness to contribute to the department as a whole. This year’s ACSSA Award for Service went to Elizabeth Chapman '20 (biochemistry major, Honors Fellow [Matera lab]).

National Awards

Recipients of the award have demonstrated excellence in organic chemistry based on a combination of research experience, coursework and a desire to pursue a career in chemistry. They receive a letter of recognition from the ACS Division of Organic Chemistry and an award certificate signed by the division chair. Awardees who are members of the ACS also receive membership to the Division of Organic Chemistry. Those who are not will receive Affiliate status.

Alexander Clinkscales '19 (chemistry major [Wright lab]) was the recipient of the American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry Undergraduate Award, a national award to recognize achievement by an undergraduate student in inorganic chemistry and to encourage further study in the field.

Recipients of the award have demonstrated excellence in inorganic chemistry at the undergraduate level based on any combination of research, coursework, and/or motivation/interest/dedication, with future plans that include a career in chemistry. The recipients receive an award certificate from the Division and a letter of commendation from the Division Chair.

Research in the Dabrowski lab focuses on developing methods at the intersection of renewable resources, catalysis and consumer products. In other words, how can we make the specialty products that society needs (e.g., medicines) from non-oil based starting materials employing chemical methods? Emphasis is placed on educating the next generation of science-educated researchers and health professionals to envision a world that is less dependent on crude oil and utilizes the breadth of chemistry knowledge to make a difference.

“Crude oil is still a leading source for chemical feedstocks used to prepare consumer products, in part due to the wealth of chemical knowledge used transform it. Harnessing the power of catalysis and applying it to renewable resources in order to access the same ends offers a more sustainable option. Our efforts toward this goal entail utilizing the myriad roles of trispentafluorophenylborane [B(CF)] to selectively convert sugars to deoxygenated scaffolds.”

The talk was well-received by experts and undergraduates alike and resulted in additional invited talks and a request to be the primary judge for the chemistry demonstrations competition.