Chemistry Seminar - Information and Resources
CHEM 491: Department Seminar
Section 001 – CRN# 22196– 0 Credit Hours – Spring 2025
Time/Location: 11:00 - 12:00 R (Sims 105)
Prerequisites: Grade of C- or better in CHEM105, CHEM201 or CHEM211
Dr. Maria C. Gelabert Artiles
Office/Phone: 314A Sims Science Building/803-323-4939
Office Hours[MG1] : T 12:00-1:00, W 3:00-4:00, F 11:00-12:00, or by appointment
Written Summary Requirements (due one week after each talk or event)
Seminars play a critical role in science, providing a
venue for public dissemination of scientific methods, results and advances. In
a variety of venues, seminars can also provide networking opportunities through
face-to-face contact. A typical seminar involves an introduction of a speaker, then
a presentation followed by a time for questions and discussion. Some of the seminar
meetings will highlight scientists from other universities, industries and
government agencies to provide students with a broad perspective of the
chemistry enterprise. The seminar course is also designed to support your
career development and connection to discipline through talks, workshops,
forums with visitors outside chemistry from Winthrop (i.e. career development),
and department-level information and activities. You'll likely be attending (and/or
developing and presenting) a variety of seminars/webinars, continuing education
courses, training sessions and workshops throughout your career, regardless of
your chosen field.
The seminar course is designed to broaden your
horizons and support your career and connection to discipline through talks,
workshops, forums with visitors outside chemistry from Winthrop (i.e. career
development), and department-level information and activities. The meetings are
a combination of research talks (inside and outside Winthrop), industrial
recruiting, alumni visits, career development (i.e. resume/interview, education
career options, scholarships), Winthrop chemistry club info, graduate school recruiting,
and more.
Winthrop University's faculty
adopted a set of four University Level Competencies (ULCs) that describe the
qualities our students develop during their Winthrop career. It is easy to see
that the seminar topics involve solving problems and developing written/oral
communication skills. However, you will also learn the responsibilities of
chemists to the greater good of our planet and society, as well as the global
nature of chemistry. Within the discussions of the seminars, I think you will
find this course fits well with all four competencies.
Competency
1: Winthrop
graduates think critically and solve problems. This course asks you to take in
relevant information from multiple viewpoints. The variety of seminars allow
you to see broad context, examining how others think through and critically
solve problems.
Competency
2: Winthrop
graduates are personally and socially responsible. In this course, you will
learn about the perspectives of others, and reflect on your experience and
learning process, giving you a greater sense of inclusion within the chemistry
community, as well as broader scientific community.
Competency
3: Winthrop graduates
understand the interconnected nature of the world and the time in which they
live. In this course, you’ll better understand context of discipline, and come
to recognize your own potential career path in connection to other fields. You are
engaging with your peers and other members of diverse academic, professional,
and cultural communities as informed, active citizens.
Competency
4: Winthrop graduates
communicate effectively. This course asks you to communicate in written and
online form, to interact with others and to practice writing organized synopses
for the formal assignments.
By the end of the course, you will have:
· More clear understanding of how scientific seminars are presented, and how they disseminate information.
· Wider knowledge of the variety of disciplines and careers related to chemistry.
· Broader understanding of oral presentation methods and skills.
· Stronger sense of the chemistry enterprise culture and its role in society and our world.
· Contemplated your career path, in terms of content (seminar talks, workshops or other events), and information about the various options available to you as a chemistry major.
The seminar courses CHEM491-494 are graded S/U. For satisfactory completion of the course, you will earn at least 10 points with the following:
Ø (6 points) Attend 6 talks or events (5-6 in yellow plus 0-1 from choice of optional events)
Ø For optional pieces, submit photo or electronic documentation
Ø (4 points) Write and submit seminar summaries for at least 4 of 6 talks or events
One point will be added to your Blackboard Total as attendances and summaries are verified.
Each summary is due on Blackboard within one week of the talk or event. Assignments must be summaries (NOT photos of notes), written in prose or bullet form: clear, detailed and well-written, with suggested focus on the points below:
→ Summarize the talk content
→ In a few sentences, describe something from the talk that was new and/or especially interesting to you
→ Describe something from the talk that is especially relevant to your career
During the seminar events, do your best to be engaged and interested, keeping in mind the benefits of expanding your horizons. Feel free to interact with speaker(s) by asking questions, and take advantage of the time after a talk to introduce yourself.
You are expected to attend each class meeting for the full scheduled time. The seminar program is often key for development of future career opportunities. Put all seminar dates in your calendar early in the term.
If you must miss a seminar due to illness, you should contact me no later than 24 hours after with documentation. For any conflicting University-related events, you should contact me in advance. Any makeup seminars are sought by you and must be approved by me. They must be in-depth talks of 30 minutes or more and related to science.
Please contact me by email or drop by my office (Sims 314A) with any questions. Throughout the semester, I will write the class via class listserve and/or Blackboard Announcement. If you're not yet on the listserve, subscribe by following the instructions here.
Winthrop University is dedicated to providing access to education. If you have a disability and require specific accommodations to complete this course, contact the Office of Accessibility (OA) at 803-323-3290 or accessibility@winthrop.edu. Once you have your official notice of accommodations from the Office of Accessibility, please inform me as early as possible in the semester.
At Winthrop University in the College of Arts and Sciences, diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to our academic mission and institutional identity. We value and see others as whole people. Our faculty, staff, and students work together to create a community where people of all races, ethnicities, genders and gender identities, sexualities, socioeconomic classes, cultural backgrounds, nations of origin, ages, religions, political perspectives, abilities, and body types can truly thrive.
Although COVID-19 has reached an endemic phase, it is still important to remain vigilant as we face a recent rise in positive cases. As socially responsible members of this community, everyone is expected to engage in daily health self-monitoring, to stay home (residence hall or off-campus housing) from on-campus class, work, or activities if they begin experiencing any COVID-related symptoms. Masks are available in the classroom for student use.
When experiencing any COVID-related symptoms, students are expected to contact Health Services by completing the QI form in the Patient Portal and respond to the nurse who will contact them with instructions. COVID positive residential students are required to follow their QI plan for 5 days of isolation off campus so be prepared with a back-up plan as well. By acknowledgement, you agree to Winthrop’s expectations of you regarding health monitoring and reporting.
As noted in the Student Conduct Code: ''Responsibility for good conduct rests with students as adult individuals.'' The policy on student academic misconduct is outlined in Section V of the Student Conduct Code in the online Student Handbook
I reserve the right to update and edit this syllabus as necessary, including assignments, seminars added/rescheduled, and policies. Any changes will be promptly communicated on the Blackboard landing page, Bb announcement and/or class listserve.
[MG1]Changes to syllabus 1/29/25: Wednesday office hours now 3:00-4:00