Academia-Industry Collaboration: Water Chemistry and Environmental Education

• Hunter Adams ^[5] ; Candice Sharp Fulton ^[1] ; Mark Southard ^[2] ; Jianguo Shao ^[1] ; Sam Reeder ^[6] ; Jonathan Price ^[1] ; Emily Appleton ^[6] ; Chris Hansen ^[1] ; Ben Colvin ^[6] ; Kashif Mahmud ^[1] ; Daniel Nix ^[7] ; James Masuoka ^[1] ; Monica Odlare ^[3] ; Keisuke Ikehata ^[4]
  1. [1] Midwestern State University

     Midwestern State University

     Estados Unidos

     
  2. [2] Wichita Falls Independent School District

     Wichita Falls Independent School District

     Estados Unidos

     
  3. [3] Mälardalen University

     Mälardalen University

     Suecia

     
  4. [4] Texas State University

     Texas State University

     Estados Unidos

     
  5. [5] Water Source & Purification Division, United States
  6. [6] Cypress Environmental Laboratory, United States
  7. [7] Texas Section American Water Works Association, United States

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• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 102, Nº 8, 2025, págs. 3408-3415
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Collaboration between academia and industry has been demonstrated to be vital for students’ career skill development and employability. These partnerships can bridge the gap between theoretical and practical applications by promoting internships, networking events, and collaborative research projects. Employers in any laboratory environment, including water and wastewater utility laboratories, value experience in both soft skills, such as communication and teamwork, as well as technical skills with basic and advanced analytical chemistry instrumentation. Collaborative partnerships can lead to unique research opportunities, help guide academic curricula and standards to better match industry needs, and expose students to real-world experiences. Academic institutions also benefit from access to industry resources that would otherwise limit teaching and research opportunities. Ultimately, these types of collaborations can contribute to preparing students for various job markets while generating academic growth and industrial interest. This article will discuss how the City of Wichita Falls Cypress Environmental Laboratory has worked to bridge this gap by collaborating with three universities to help prepare students for entering the workforce.