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TRIP - Spectroscopy in Florence 2001
(repeated as SATA Florence 2003)
TRIP Description - Professor Bruce Branchini, adviser
During Spring Break, 2001, Bruce Branchini, Hans and Ella McCollum '21 Vahlteich Professor of Chemistry, and eight senior chemistry majors [ACS/Chemistry, ACS Biochemistry, and Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology (BCMB)] including: Claudia Bachmann-Bouchard, Peter Driscoll, Mike O'Sullivan, Kristen Park, Nathan Portier, Sarah Reisman, Eric Welch and Kevin Wilkinson, went to Florence, Italy. The group participated in activities related to and extending the concepts of Chemistry 401;Spectroscopic Methods and Organic Synthesis. The planned activities included: (1) a tour of the European Union-supported Center for Magnetic Resonance (Centro di Risonanze Magnetiche) and a lecture by Professore Ivano Bertini (4), the head of the facility; (2) a trip to the Menarini Research Institute and a meeting with NMR spectroscopy software developer Giuseppe Balacco (3) a visit to the luminescence research facilities and meeting with Professore Mario Pazzagli of the Universita' di Firenze; and (4) a trip to the Institute and Museum of the History of Science. Additionally, trips to local museums markets, the Chianti region and Siena were accomplished.
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After graduating from CC, many Chemistry majors go to graduate schools such as: WPI, Yale, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, and University of North Carolina. |
The main educational purpose of this TRIP was to provide an opportunity for senior chemistry majors to use formal course material (lecture and lab experience from CHM 401 and other courses) as the basis for their continued learning of new, related material. All of the participants will use spectroscopy in their professional careers in science after graduating from Connecticut College. All of the participants have completed the key course, Chemistry 401, so the TRIP goals will be met beyond the normal context of the course. This TRIP program is intended to provide a group of physical science students with an extraordinary opportunity to gain an appreciation for the international nature of science while experiencing the rich culture of Italy.
The educational goals were be met by: (1) having students observe how the most modern chemical instrumentation, including an 800 MHz NMR spectrometer, available in the world is used by a group of international scientists to determine the 3-dimensional structures of biologically important macromolecules; (2) attending a lecture by an internationally known expert, Professor Bertini, on the application of the spectroscopic technique nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to a unique group of metal-containing proteins whose physiological function is essential to the maintenance of life; (3) meeting with Dr. Balacco and discussing both the technical and philosophical (including the pertinent issue of software developed for profit vs. freeware produced for the benefit of scientific education and research) approach to developing software for data processing of spectral information; (4) visiting an Italian academic department with and talking with Professor Pazzagli and scientists carrying out luminescence research; (5) visiting the Instituto di Storia della Scienza where the topic of spectroscopy, as well as science in general, will be experienced in a wider historical perspective; and (6) trips to several museums such as the Uffizi, Accademia Gallery, Pitti Palace, and Palazzo Vecchio.
The trip occurred during first week of spring break from March 9, 2001- March 18, 2001. The eight student participants were selected on the basis of their performance in CHM 401, an advanced course taken mainly by majors in the chemistry programs in their senior (or junior) year, and their firm commitments to meet all of the requirements of the TRIP program. The student participants also attended a non-credit weekly seminar with Professor Branchini that continued for the remainder of the Spring 2001 semester. The focus of the meetings was on learning more about the places and people that will be visited in Italy. Living and local arrangements were made with the assistance of the Centro Studi Filippo Brunelleschi Italian Language and Culture Center. Below, you will find photos of the students and the area in Florence where they will be staying.
Upon returning to Connecticut College, the students wrote papers on their experiences in Florence. On April 24, they jointly presented a seminar open to the College community on their Florence TRIP. Professor Branchini was extremely pleased that the TRIP was so successful in meeting the educational goal of providing excellent experiences in science and culture for chemistry majors.