Thiel College professor to discuss influence of connecting art, chemistry at conference

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College Professor of Chemistry and Department Chair G. Rattan K. Khalsa, Ph.D., will attend the 25th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education at the University of Notre Dame from July 29—Aug. 2.

Khalsa’s presentation, “Art in general chemistry: Impetus for engaged and active learning,” will discuss how the creative applications of chemistry pique student interest and enthusiasm. She will also cover how students composing unique art projects—while conducting experiments to solve specific scientific problems associated with the art—increase group collaboration and excitement in the laboratory. Outcomes of incorporating general chemistry experiments that correlate Beer’s Law with tie-dyeing of silk scarves; acid-base chemistry with preparing designer soap; oxidation-reduction reactions with designing anodized niobium jewelry and indigo tie-dyeing of T-shirts; coordination chemistry with preparing embossed copper patinas; and photochemistry with developing cyanotypes will be covered.

Khalsa has taught at Thiel College, a leading liberal arts college in northwest Pennsylvania, since 1980. She received her doctorate in inorganic chemistry from the University of Illinois and her B.S. in chemistry from the University of Alabama. Her research focuses on discovering combinations of metal oxides for harvesting sunlight to split water thereby generating hydrogen gas a green fuel which does not contribute to global warming. Other areas of her research include investigating small molecule interactions with transition metal complexes.

About the BCCE

The Biennial Conference on Chemical Education is a national meeting sponsored by the Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society. The conference is designed for middle school science teachers, secondary school chemistry teachers, graduate students, and college chemistry faculty. The conference provides chemistry educators with opportunities for interacting with colleagues at all levels in formal and informal settings. This workshop is designed to provide participants with opportunities for interacting with chemistry instructors of all levels in formal and informal settings. There will be a mixture of plenary lectures, symposia, workshops, chemical demonstrations, poster sessions, exhibits and tours of chemistry research areas.  

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