two-year college

My First Lab of the Year

My first experiment involves measuring the density of water. Each group of two kids is assigned a specific volume of water from 10 to 100 mLs on the tens. They simply measure the mass of an empty graduated cylinder and then add the water and find the mass again. Once they have their data they go around the room and find another group that has one of the volumes that they need and get the data from them and record their names. Once complete they generate a graph of the data and answer a few simple questions. The whole procedure can be completed in about 20 minutes.

Review: What You Need for the First Job, Besides the Ph.D. in Chemistry by Mark A. Benvenuto, Ed.

This book is based on the ACS Symposium with the same title1, with additional chapters added in print. Thirteen chapters are grouped into three sections: jobs in the corporate, government, and academic sectors but much of the material presented applies to all three sectors. In addition, the helpful information and tips are of value not only to Ph.D.

Review: Introduction to Computational Physical Chemistry by Joshua Schrier

Joshua Schrier has taken on a traditionally difficult task, teaching computational chemistry. To do this successfully, the student has to have programming skills, a solid foundation in the theory and background in the methods employed from classical physics to quantum methods. Thus the task is daunting and why so few have taken it on.

SAFER SCI: Be Protected!

As we all know, research and general educational practice clearly indicates that students learn science best by doing it – not just reading about it. Hands-on, process and inquiry based science is the key to understanding science. Unfortunately, this is a double edged sword for science teachers in that doing science has its potential hazards and resulting risks. Science laboratories, classrooms and field work sites can be unsafe places to teach and learn. If a student gets hurt while doing an activity in the lab, in the field or even at home if it was a teacher’s assignment, there is potential shared liability for both the teacher and the school.