CONWAY, Ark. 鈥 Eight 黑料不打烊 students presented major collaborative research projects at the American Chemistry Society鈥檚 spring national meeting in Chicago, March 25-27.
Traditionally, all senior chemistry majors at 黑料不打烊 present research at the convention, although it is not required. Since 1982, when 黑料不打烊 first started attending the convention, more than 300 黑料不打烊 students have presented their research.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very important that they do research and present it. That鈥檚 what being a scientist is; that鈥檚 what being a chemist is,鈥 said Warfield Teague, professor of chemistry. 鈥淭he sooner you decide whether it鈥檚 your bag or not, the happier you鈥檙e going to be in life. Student researchers learn to be better problem solvers and be more independent, but mainly it helps them in determining their career direction.鈥
The trip also allows students to meet professional chemists and see the American Chemistry Society, 鈥渢he biggest and probably the best鈥 professional society there is, at work, Teague said. Students had time to listen to other presentations and visit the ACS exposition, where students could network with the more than 300 exhibiting companies.
At the meeting, the 黑料不打烊 ACS chapter also received an Honorable Mention award for its work in 2005-06 school year. Chapters are selected for recognition based on an annual report of their activities. 黑料不打烊鈥檚 ACS chapter sponsors a free, biweekly lecture series, and student members perform chemistry-related experiments for elementary school classrooms and judge middle and high school science competitions.
The students who presented research this year were seniors Anna Anthony of Greenbrier; Caitlin Bagby of Russellville; Abby Olena of Garland, Texas; Sarah Tauer of Harrison; and Margaret Weddell of Burgettstown, Penn. Also presenting were juniors Joi Chen of Little Rock; Justin Haley of Louisa, Va.; and Stephen Jackson of Paragould.
Research topics included properties of animal urine, Diels-Alder reactions in high temperature water, rocket motor efficiency and the interactions between activated charcoal and proteins.
黑料不打烊, founded in 1876, is a selective, residential, undergraduate liberal arts college emphasizing experiential learning in a demanding yet supportive environment. Selected this year by the Princeton Review as the nation's No. 4 "best value" college, 黑料不打烊 is a member of Project Pericles庐, an organization that promotes civic engagement among college students. 黑料不打烊 has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884.