HIGH POINT, N.C., March 29, 2016 – Three High Point University chemistry faculty members, Dr. Brian Augustine, Dr. Keir Fogarty and Dr. Heather Miller, presented their work at the 251st American Chemical Society National Meeting. Held in San Diego, California, the ACS meeting is the largest gathering of chemists and engineers in the world.
Augustine gave a presentation, “Creating ‘Quasi-Flipped’ Classrooms Using Online Homework Tools for General Chemistry in the Transformation of an Undergraduate Chemistry Department,” during the chemistry education session. He also presented a poster, “Novel Patterning of Au Thin Films on PMMA Via Microcontact Printing and Inkjet Printing of Halogenated Solvents Followed By Selective Polishing,” during the polymeric materials science and engineering session. His poster was a collaboration with HPU sophomore Sarah Colbert and researchers and students from James Madison University in Virginia.
Fogarty presented research he conducted with two HPU biochemistry student co-authors, Kaitlyn Griffith and Ricardo DeCataldo. His presentation, titled “Do-it-yourself: 3D Models of Atomic Orbitals Through 3D Printing,” generated excitement around the possibility of using 3D printer technology in the chemistry classroom.
Miller presented a poster, “Using Peer Learning to Strengthen Basic Math Skills in the General Chemistry Lab,” which she coauthored with HPU chemistry faculty members Melissa Srougi and Todd Knippenberg. Her efforts in understanding the connections between success in math and introductory chemistry are popular areas of interest in the chemistry education community.
“The faculty presentations received positive feedback and generated significant interest from the chemistry and engineering community,” Augustine says. “Having our faculty participate in national ACS meetings is an important way to stay connected to our colleagues in the field and receive valuable feedback about cutting-edge changes we are making to our curriculum to produce scientists for the 21st century.”