Rachel Rigsby and Kim Daus, of the Chemistry Department, recently attended the 2012 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE) at Pennsylvania State University. This international event is the largest gathering of chemistry educators in the world which brings together over 1,000 teachers committed to inspiring tomorrow’s leaders in the sciences. At this five-day event, middle school science teachers, high school chemistry teachers, undergraduate and graduate students, and professors connect with colleagues at all levels through technical and poster sessions, workshops, plenary lectures and a vendor exhibition. Rigsby and Daus attended workshops on computer resources for chemical educators, chemical transformations with food and chemistry of art and conservation science in the laboratory.
They also attended three days of sessions highlighting best practices in chemistry education. Rigsby presented a poster titled Protein Visualization Throughout the Biochemistry Laboratory presenting teaching strategies she uses in CEM 3510. Daus presented a poster titled Wizard of Oz and Beryllium? Using a Periodic Table Project to Teach Chemistry and Art which illustrated the project she and Professor David Ribar, of the Art Department, had students complete for their CEM/ART learning community courses. Daus also gave a presentation titled Better Eating Through Chemistry: Using Chemistry to Explore and Improve Local Cuisine which highlighted the accomplishments of her recent Maymester CEM 3015 course.
