KU Undergraduate Research with
Dr. Ed Vitz
We investigate a variety of topics, from rockets to fog machines. One theme of our research is development of lecture demonstrations that illustrate chemistry concepts in some especially vivid or exciting way.
We also are interested in web applications; our work appears in the National Science Foundation's National Science Digital Library, and in the Journal of Chemical Education Digital Library. We're looking for students interested in developing world wide web applications in chemistry. Ed Vitz is one of the creators of the ChemEd Digital Library portal of the NSDL, and is the Editor of Tested Demonstrations in the Journal of Chemical Education (JCE). Several students have contributed to the journal "peer review" process by helping evaluate manuscripts submitted to JCE, enabling them to get an inside look at the scientific publication process.
Here are some examples of our student research projects:
The Heat Paradox
A cup of hot coffee contains less heat than a liter of icewater!
J.
Chem. Educ. 2005, 82, 856.
http://www.jce.divched.org/Journal/Issues/2005/Jun/abs856.html
Rockets
Natalie Barto and Brandon Henrie tested rockets powered by a variety of gaseous fuels, and published their work in the Journal of Chemical Education:
J. Chem. Educ. 2006, 83, 1505. http://www.jce.divched.org/Journal/Issues/2006/Oct/abs1505.html
pH Fundamentals
Christopher McCarty's (2007) research
was published in the Journal of Chemical Education, and is the only citation
in the Wikipedia article on Chemical Activity:
J. Chem. Educ. 2006, 83, 752. http://www.jce.divched.org/Journal/Issues/2006/May/abs752.html
