Area High School to Hold its Chemistry Class at UA

Editor’s Note: A Northridge High School class will meet in room 1426 in UA’s Science and Engineering Complex from 10 a.m. until 3:10 p.m. Jan. 19. Media interested in photos or footage from the class should contact Chris Bryant in media relations in advance, 205/348-8323 or cbryant@ur.ua.edu. Two of the more visually interesting segments will likely be a nylon-making experiment from approximately 10 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. and a flame experiment from approximately 12:45 p.m. until 1:45 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A University of Alabama chemistry laboratory will be filled with slightly younger-than-usual faces Jan. 19 as it hosts a high-school chemistry class.

Twenty-five Northridge High School students enrolled in Marilyn Stephens’ Advanced Placement chemistry class will spend much of the day in one of UA’s Science and Engineering Complex laboratories.

“Few area high-school schools have fully equipped chemistry labs,” said Dr. Martin Bakker, associate professor of chemistry at UA, who is coordinating the day along with Stephens and Judy Lumzy, education coordinator within UA’s Center for Materials for Information Technology. “This means most area chemistry students do not have much opportunity to carry out experimental work,” he said. “We’re looking at this pilot program as a way to help remedy this.”

“Experimental work is important in a science class, as it help students gain a much better understanding of the work,” said Stephens.

The high school class met in the UA lab for one-half day last semester and conducted two experiments, Bakker said. The goal is to expand the program, and Bakker said he hopes Advanced Placement classes from Tuscaloosa’s Bryant and Central High Schools will visit later in the semester.