We anticipate having students performing these analyses to provide them with experience in industrial problem-solving methods. The use of instrumentation in the laboratory brings the theory of chemical principles into a practical light. Performing analyses will help the students tie theoretical concepts to real-life chemical problems. We view the use of instrumentation as a necessary component of applied learning. Science, as it is practiced in the real world, is a collaborative effort.
Scientists pool their expertise to solve complex chemical problems.
Our initial proposal was, in fact, a collaborative effort involving the entire chemistry department, each faculty member having their own perspective on how this instrumentation would be incorporated into our curriculum. We view this, not as divisive, but as a way of complementing each others specialties for the benefit of ourselves and our students. Our joint internship with Champion International provides students with valuable industrial experience, and provides Champion with on-going technical support. Services to other companies in the future may well be self-supporting by minimal fees or donations. At this point, we, as a faculty, have been in the process of acquiring and installing the necessary hardware and software, pursuing outside funding, and earning the basic operation and applications of the instrument.