Sustainable nanoMAterials Lab (SMAL)

In collaboration with the University of California Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN), we've designed a laboratory experiment for first year undergraduates in chemistry. The experiments introduce students to the interdisciplinary field of nanotechnology, expose them to nanoparticle synthesis and characterization techniques, and enable students to assess ecotoxicity of nanomaterials. Finally, students are given the opportunity to design and test their own experiment based upon their new skillset.

The series of discovery-based experiments introduces students to the process of scientific research with a classroom undergraduate research experience (CURE) approach. The interdisciplinary nature of the work reinforces cross-curricular connections throughout first year courses in STEM.

Want to learn more about the experiments?

Read our recent publication in Journal of Chemical Education and please send along an email. Happy to help set up similar labs elsewhere and build a research community with other courses.