Summer Research Plan in Polymer Chemistry Laboratory for ACS Project SEED Program
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Sophia Beilharz [1] ; Malena Vermut-Young [1] ; Katherine Anderson [1] ; Daniele Vinella [1] ; Anuj Pahuja [1] ; Yichun Yuan [1] ; Konpal Raheja [1] ; Carlos E. Crespo-Hernández [1] ; Metin Karayilan [1]
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[1] Case Western Reserve University, United States
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- Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 101, Nº 3, 2024, págs. 1120-1129
- Idioma: inglés
- Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
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Resumen
Early research experiences play an important role in shaping students’ academic and professional development and future career path. While many colleges and universities offer undergraduate students the chance to engage in research, a significant number of high school students face limited or no access to such opportunities. Initiatives such as the ACS Project SEED program aim at providing high school students with access to research experiences in academic laboratories. These programs have a strong impact on students, inspiring them to pursue a chemistry degree and contributing to the development of lab skills and professional networks. Despite the growing relevance and wide range of real-world applications of polymers, the exposure to polymer chemistry in both high school and undergraduate curricula is very limited. Hence, this work proposes a research plan tailored for ACS Project SEED students in polymer chemistry laboratories focusing on controlled radical polymerization techniques and polymer characterization methods. This plan aims to guide students with minimal research lab experience through the research process and equip them with relevant skills that are also applicable beyond the program. This research plan can easily be applied to any high school student pursuing an equivalent summer research program. Overall, the activities highlighted in this work emphasize the critical role of hands-on experiences in fostering a passion for science and preparing students for successful academic and professional journeys.
