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19 - Undergraduate Research in Chemistry

from Part III.1 - STEM

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 August 2022

Harald A. Mieg
Affiliation:
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Elizabeth Ambos
Affiliation:
Council on Undergraduate Research, Washington DC
Angela Brew
Affiliation:
Macquarie University, Sydney
Dominique Galli
Affiliation:
Indiana University–Purdue University, Indianapolis
Judith Lehmann
Affiliation:
Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Summary

Undergraduate research in the chemical sciences is considered essential for understanding the scientific process and building transferable skillsets for a global workforce. Engagement in undergraduate research has been shown to help students gain critical skills while building confidence and fostering a sense of belonging and community that has been shown to be critical for attracting and retaining a diverse student and professional body of scientists. Several different models of undergraduate research in the chemical sciences exist, including the traditional assistantship to collaborator, consultant and course-based undergraduate research models. In recent years, the latter model has provided increased opportunities for undergraduates to participate in high-impact chemistry research as early as their first year of college. The chapter provides a short introduction to these models and includes selected examples highlighting their implementation, concluding with an outline of the importance of inclusive practices in undergraduate research.

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Chapter
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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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References

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