Chemists identify the molecules, both natural and man-made, that exist in the environment. Chemists must identify the sources of molecules, their interactions, and their movements in the environment. Sophisticated analytical techniques, modeling programs, and data banks are powerful tools that allow chemists to solve very difficult environmental problems. Biologists and Earth Scientists depend on chemical expertise. For example, geochemical reactions in soils determine if acid rain produced by sulfur from coal-fired power plants will be buffered by molecules in the soil and when metal ions will be released into the ground water.
Chemistry is an essential component of environmental science.
Practicing environmental chemists benefit from interdisciplinary skills in biology, geography, earth science, and physics as well as from studying ethics, economics, and political science. The Department of Chemistry includes seventeen faculty with a reputation for outstanding teaching. New faculty within the department bring modern expertise including environmental chemistry, solid state chemistry, biophysical chemistry, material science, polymer chemistry, pharmacology, and instrumental analysis. The Chemistry program at the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse has been fully accredited by the American Chemical Society since 1968. The program is one of the largest in the state as indicated by the number of faculty and the number of graduates placed into the job market, professional schools, and graduate programs.