UMM ACS Chapter Shines On

Hands-on lab research isn’t the only useful experience UMM chemistry majors enjoy during their Morris years. Our student chapter of the American Chemistry Society (ACS) can claim bragging rights as a successful and noteworthy chapter of ACS. Over the last ten years, UMM’s ACS chapter has earned yearly national recognition as a commendable or honorable mention chapter.

This active group of fledgling chemists keeps busy with projects and events that take them out in the community for learning and sharing. For example, this year, ACS members went to Minn-Dak sugar beet cooperative in Wahpeton where alumnus Jeff Carlson gave the group a tour of the facility.

“They saw a direct industry application of chemistry in how beets are turned into sugar. Everybody thought it was way cool and Jeff did a dynamite job,” says Nancy Carpenter.

ACS members organize a career night, invite speakers and even offer chemistry demos at Willie’s, (a Morris grocery store).

“We also went bowling on mole day and had a Halloween fundraiser that was a big hit,” Carpenter laughs. (see photo)

“Our students are enthusiastic, with a good work ethic,” she adds. “They’re looking for something fun and interesting to do. The ones involved in Science Sensations do chemistry demos at 3rd grade classes within a 30 mile radius of Morris. It’s all volunteer, very fun and the school kids think it’s just the best.”



Nancy Carpenter without the habit

UMM Chemistry Cast of Characters

Yes, it is a scary group. But it was all for a good cause. Our beloved and memorable chemistry faculty (and lab tech) agreed to dress up for Halloween to raise money for UMM's ACS Chapter. In order from left to right, Jim "Abracadabra" Togeas, Ted "Nugent" Pappenfus, "Mother" Nancy Carpenter, Jennifer "I got the wave down" Ropp, Rachel "live long and prosper" Gartner, Joe "twinkle toes" Alia and Julie Kill, the gift wrapped witch.

 

What's Cooking In Chemistry?
UMM Alumni who took Jim Olson’s General Chemistry Honors course will remember his “do-it-yourself” attitude about lab research. Before Professor Emeritus Olson left these hallowed halls, he helped his chemistry colleagues create a new course that would ensure early research experience for all UMM chemistry students. Olson, along with professor Nancy Carpenter designed an innovative Intro to Research (ItR) course unique to UMM’s chemistry program.

“Olson saw the value of students working on research projects,” says Carpenter. “The chemistry discipline embraces undergraduate research very sincerely and this is our way of building it into the curriculum.”

At other universities, most chemistry students don’t get research experience until their junior or senior year. UMM chemistry students take Intro To Research (ItR) in the second semester of their sophomore year. As far as Carpenter is concerned, the sooner chemistry students start working in the lab, the better.

“ItR is a logical first stepping stone,” she explains. “We teach writing and presentation but the students actually DO research. On the first day of class, all six chemistry faculty give a presentation of their current research projects and the students rank which projects they want most to work on. The last ten weeks of the course involve lots of interaction of students with faculty doing real research in the lab.”

Carpenter sees this course as one that does more than give young chemists their first taste of lab research. It also begins a progression of experiences that will give them a competitive edge in industry or graduate study after leaving UMM.

“It has worked out more than once that a student’s ItR sophomore project leads to a summer internship, then a MAP (Morris Academic Partner) project as a junior and a UROP as a senior,” says Carpenter. “Researchers outside of UMM who work with our alumni have favorable things to say about how well prepared they are for lab work.”

One of the accomplishments that made the new ItR course possible was an NSF grant award for course curriculum and lab improvement. It allowed the chemistry discipline to purchase a GC-MS (gas chromatography mass spec) and a 300 MHZ FT-NMR.

“These instruments help us characterize compounds to figure out what they are. The grant enabled us to create this course because it provided the tools for students to use in their research,” Carpenter says.

The ItR course is in its fifth year as part of UMM’s chemistry curriculum. With five years of offering the ItR course under her belt, Carpenter now presents the course’s structure and content at professional meetings for other chemistry faculty to consider adding to their own curriculum. While ItR requires a great deal of work for faculty, the benefits for students are clear.

“You need to have everyone in the discipline behind it to make it work,” she stresses. “But we know the student feedback is uniformly positive. The class is a lot of work for them too, but they know it’s worth it.”

 

 
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Last Modified: Friday, September 28, 2007
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