Involving undergraduates in research projects provides many advantages both to students and faculty. Research helps students better achieve fundamental educational goals such as thinking independently and critically and applying concepts and techniques learned in the classroom to the solution of a new problem. Faculty also benefit by remaining current in their field and active in the increasingly competitive world of grant funding. However, conducting research at undergraduate institutions poses challenges in part because of limited resources but, more critically, because both faculty and students have limited time to dedicate to research or students do not envision themselves as capable to operate in a research environment. One strategy to circumvent some of these issues is to incorporate research projects directly in the laboratory curriculum. This presentation will highlight examples of projects conducted both in lower and upper division chemistry laboratories and will discuss successes as well as challenges encountered. Most often students engaged early on in research activities develop the confidence and enthusiasm to continue the research throughout their undergraduate education and beyond.

Successes and challenges in incorporating research activities in laboratory courses

2019 Spring National Meeting

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