As chemistry and its applications expand in scope, there is an increasing need for interdisciplinary teams of researchers to tackle complex problems. Consequently, researchers must learn to strategically collaborate with other fields and effectively communicate their expertise with one another. We have been learning to do this through our NSF-funded research project D3TaLES (Data-enabled Discovery and Design to Transform Liquid-based Energy Storage), motivating our interest to prepare future researchers for similar work. To this end, we designed and implemented In the Mix, a student-led, two-day workshop promoting collaborative science in the context of energy storage innovations. This interactive workshop was designed for emerging researchers (from undergraduates to post-doctoral scholars) to gain hands-on experience with data science, computational, and experimental techniques that are critical in developing next-generation battery technologies. Graduate student researchers developed innovative instructional materials including global impact presentations, Colab-based computational chemistry workshops, hands-on electrochemistry experiments, and introductory data science and machine learning modules. Participants also toured the LG&E and KU E.W. Brown Solar Facility to learn how batteries enable more widespread use of solar energy. The workshop structure let participants see these fields’ interrelatedness and understand the importance of collaborative research to yield scientific advances. Graduate students gained confidence and teaching experience through designing activities and sharing the fundamentals of their fields with peers. Ultimately, In the Mix allowed emerging researchers to participate in collaborative science, merging computational and physical chemistry alongside data science. The resources designed for this workshop could be adapted for use in undergraduate project-based learning experiences and are available at https://github.com/D3TaLES/in-the-mix.

Teaching collaborative science: Merging computational and physical chemistry alongside data science in the classroom

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.