At the culmination of their undergraduate academic career, the chemistry seminar course at Angelo State University teaches and assesses a variety of skills, including reading and identifying different types of chemical literature, searching the literature, searching spectral databases, and communicating chemical information. These skills had traditionally been assessed through a term paper and a presentation on a chemical topic. These materials were prepared with a classroom of their peers, fellow scientists, as a target audience. In order to promote the engagement of these future chemists in the community, a goal of communicating chemical information to the public was added and assessed. The class focused on a common theme of art and chemistry. The students were divided into groups, such as ceramics, and then had to pick a more focused topic for their individual papers. Group presentations were made to the class, a scientific audience. Then, groups had to develop a science related activity to communicate science to the public at the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts Family Day Art and Science. The students wrote a reflective essay about what they learned about the importance of communicating science to the public and how it relates to the American Chemical Society’s Chemical Professional’s Code of Conduct.

Communicating chemistry to the public through art in a senior chemistry seminar course

2019 Spring National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.