Undergraduate research: challenges for research-active faculty

In a recent post I wrote about the value of undergraduate research. The topic is not new and has been discussed in many venues over many years. For example, in August of 2003 an Undergraduate Research Summit was held at Bates College, Lewiston, Maine. Funded by the Chemistry Division of the National Science Foundation and co-organized by Prof. Thomas Wenzel (Chemistry Department, Bates College) and Dr. Robert Lichter (Merrimack Consultants LLC), the summit consisted of discussions initiated by a number of white papers. A full report of the summit was disseminated and discussed at a number of American Chemical Society National Meetings.

Prof. John Stevens (Chemistry Department, University of North Carolina at Asheville) and I co-authored a piece on "Generating Research Ideas" for the summit and report. Are the views expressed in this seven-year-old white paper still relevant? Indeed, does the entire report still offer a useful perspective on the challenges associated with undergraduate research?

Incidentally, let me take this opportunity to congratulate Tom Wenzel on receiving the 2010 American Chemical Society Award for Research at an Undergraduate Institution.

The National Research Council seeks comment on K-12 science education standards

The National Research Council would like comments from the public by August 2, 2010, on a draft framework for K-12 science education. According to the news release:

"The National Research Council today released a draft framework that proposes the science content and concepts students should learn for grades K-12.  The independent, nonprofit Research Council is seeking comment on the draft from the science and education communities and the public.  The final framework will serve as the basis for new science education standards, to replace those based on documents developed over 10 years ago."


Please consider contributing to the debate.

The Value of Undergraduate Research

Much of what I wrote in my opinion piece from 2001 on undergraduate research is still valid today. The same topic is addressed in the same issue of Chemical & Engineering News by Profs. Abrash and Bussell.

Incidentally, the student profiled in my opinion piece, Shelli Frey, went on to receive a doctorate from the University of Chicago and is now an assistant professor of Chemistry at Gettysburg College.