2 credits for CHEM 125/126; 1 credit independent study
Dates: May 10 - June 11
Meets: Synchronous class time MWF 12-1pm EDT
Location: ONLINE
Instructor: Levi Mielke
Course Description
This is a special online environmental chemistry Authentic Research Connections (ARC) section of Chemistry 125/126. In it, you will learn environmental chemistry as you perform sampling and analysis for heavy metals (e.g. lead, mercury) and persistent organic pollutants (e.g., PCBs, PFAS) in the environment in and around your own home. You will develop sampling strategies, analyze water and sediment quality, and deliver a technical report on a water quality project you will develop. This report will be presented to a regional environmental advocacy group.
Because this is an online “field” class, you will work through instructional modules at your own pace, collect and work up samples at home using supplies sent to you, and submit these samples to your instructors by mail. Your instructors will work at your direction to make sample modifications and perform analyses and will send out your data for you to analyze. You will be required to schedule time during which to meet with instructors as they work through your samples. During the final weeks of the course, you will plan and execute a project that interests you--algae blooms near a local golf course, lead in drinking water, PFAS or PCBs in a local river, mercury in fish and arsenic in vegetables--at your disposal is one of UM’s Core Facilities, and so almost anything is possible!
It was wonderful to interact on an individual level with all the instructors so often. I believe this helped my learning in the class a lot.
Students from 2019 collecting samples for analysis in the lab.
