The center, which was established in 2001 with NSF support, offers free workshops in important areas of the chemical sciences for instructional faculty, post-docs and graduate students. The workshops keep teachers current in their field and offer techniques on how to present that information in the classroom. Workshop topics include environmental chemistry, nanomaterials, forensic science and nuclear magnetic resonance, among others.
Smith says the workshops are an important part of the country's scientific infrastructure. "The United States has to remain competitive in an interrelated world economy. It's important for the security of the nation and even for its medical well-being," Smith says.
Courses are held throughout the United States at various institutions. So far, more than 450 educators from 280 institutions representing 45 states, as well as Guam and Puerto Rico, have participated in the workshops.
CWCS is co-directed by Georgia State chemistry professor Emelita Breyer, along with chemistry professors David Collard from Georgia Institute of Technology and Lawrence Kaplan of Williams College in Williamstown, Mass.
For more information, visit http://chemistry.gsu.edu/cwcs.