Problem-solving, teamwork, communication, work ethic, critical thinking, and chemical literature are some of the skills not always consciously developed in an analytical and instrumental analysis laboratory. Several times we tend to focus on the operation of the UV-vis, FTIR, XRF, or Raman spectrometer, sample preparation, and data analysis due to the wide number of topics that we might have to cover in our courses. However, industrial employers not only consider the technical skills of our students but also prioritize different nontechnical skills.<br/><br/>A project-based approach was implemented in the analytical chemistry and instrumental analysis laboratory as part of the update of our chemistry program. Students were divided into teams, and each team had to propose a 5-week plan to design or implement an analytical method applied to a topic or material of their interest. The only considerations were to use some specific techniques studied in the course, to check if the materials were available in the chemistry store, and their proposal should consider relevant literature as a starting point.<br/><br/>Developing a proposal from scratch and within a limited time frame helped the students to grasp the importance of experimental design, time management, and specialized articles to formulate and reformulate their hypothesis. Furthermore, choosing a topic of their preference kept them motivated and enthusiastic. They learned better how to use different equipment, the advantages, and limitations of each instrument, some practical considerations, and how important were to keep a good lab book to keep track of their progress. Peer and self-assessment were used to help them improve their teamwork and work ethic skills. After 5 weeks of work, they were asked to present their work to the class and their peers play the role of the reviewers, providing feedback to the other teams so they could improve their final report. This session was very useful for all of them, as it helps them to improve their critical thinking and to provide statements based on the evidence found. The final report was submitted as a manuscript in an analytical chemistry journal, and where they took into consideration all the feedback given by their peers and the instructors. This approach was greatly appreciated by all the students as they felt they no longer follow a “chemical recipe” and considered it would be of great value once they get their first job.

Improving students' research skills in the analytical chemistry and instrumental analysis laboratories with a project-based approach

Where thousands of chemistry professionals meet to share ideas and advance scientific and technical knowledge. Spring 2023 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch at the end of March.

ACS Spring 2023

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