UA is Summer Home to Top Collegiate Chemistry Students, Area High School Teachers

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Some of America’s best and brightest chemistry students are spending 10 weeks of their summer at The University of Alabama, taking part in an intensive undergraduate research program sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

The Summer Undergraduate Research Participation Program, sponsored by the department of chemistry at UA, annually hosts a group of highly qualified sophomore and junior college students from across the country, who exhibit an interest and academic background in the study of chemistry.

During their 10 weeks at the Capstone, students are introduced to chemistry research, with each participant conducting a research project under the close supervision and support of UA chemistry faculty members. This summer’s program continues through Aug. 11.

According to Dr. Lowell Kispert, chair of the chemistry department, the program, which has been in place at UA since the mid-1980s, offers a number of stimulating opportunities for motivated chemistry students.

“This program offers students an excellent opportunity to participate in hands-on experiments, while working with our faculty, staff and graduate students in an atmosphere of research, collaboration and individual discovery,” said Kispert.

“It is the main goal of this program to stimulate the interest of these outstanding students through their active participation in a meaningful 10-week research project, in which the findings are then presented to faculty at the end of the session. It has been designed so that the scholars will develop the confidence and independence in carrying out meaningful research on topics of interest, while also developing work skills which will allow them to report results and communicate with peers and student colleagues.”

The program, which exists on approximately 60 campuses nationwide, is selective. This year at UA, 14 applicants were chosen from more than 65 applications, with students hailing from Michigan, Virginia, South Carolina, New Jersey, Alabama and elsewhere.

Kispert said the curriculum includes more than chemistry instruction, experiments and scientific reports. Participants are also exposed to seminars, designed to enhance students’ perception of their chosen career path, and responsible business practice.

“We strive to offer these students as well-rounded a curriculum as possible, with seminars including ethics in government, science, medicine, law, academics and industry,” said Kispert.

“It is our goal that while the participants are gaining a first hand experience into chemistry research, they are also developing a knowledge of the ideals and practices that may one day govern their actions and impact on the society they will serve. But, we also strive to make each student’s stay pleasant and fun by offering outside extracurricular activities that foster community amongst participants, while also letting them blow off a little steam. So it is not all work and no play.”

Another element added to the chemistry department’s track this year combines area high school teachers with the Summer Undergraduate Research Participation Program students. Through a new program called Research Experiences for Teachers, the chemistry department reaches right into the classrooms of Alabama. This year, four teachers from local high schools participated in that program, which is also separately funded by the National Science Foundation.

Teachers earn stipends totaling two months of their annual salary. Kispert said the program is designed to take advanced chemistry knowledge into the classrooms of Alabama high school students.

“We are able to bring some of Alabama’s chemistry teachers into our program, which combines them with our SURP students. They also work in conjunction with our faculty and staff in developing a research track. But the most important aspect of this program is that these instructors will then be able to return to their classrooms in the fall and teach their students what they have learned here at The University of Alabama,” said Kispert. “It is the perfect example of service through research and teaching.”

Kispert says as the SURP program has evolved since its inception in the 1980s, the goal has always remained the same … to excite and to inform students who may then decide to pursue a chemistry career.

“We have found that if you reach them early enough and do something to stimulate their interest in the field of chemistry, they will, in turn, become more interested in making chemistry their chosen profession. And this goes both ways with our new Research Experience for Teachers program, as well. The teachers take what they have learned, go back to their high schools and teach their students,” said Kispert.

“We are in desperate need in America for more scientists, so we are trying do our best at identifying and recruiting students. We feel pretty good that our program, with the backing of the NSF, is accomplishing its goal of training and inspiring tomorrow’s scientists.”