Stimulating undergraduate passion for research

CHED 1796

Desmond H. Murray, murrayd@andrews.edu, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI 49104-0430
Our ongoing initiative to actively engage sophomore organic chemistry students in the thrills of discovery and creativity in authentic original research will be presented. This undergraduate curriculum innovation replaces the entire second semester of traditional organic labs with independent research projects. We will discuss the philosophical tenets, design factors, implementation challenges, pedagogical outcomes and student responses before and after the experience. Specific examples will highlight how this approach can be adopted in a systematic yet flexible and cost-effective way.