How to Obtain CD-Roms
Modules in Emerging Fields
Volume 1: Combinatorial Chemistry. Dr. Timo Ovaska, Connecticut College, Visiting Expert Dr. Stephen Wilson. Combinatorial chemistry has become an important new tool for discovery. The technique encompasses many strategies for the rapid synthesis of large collections of compounds. These collections are often called chemical libraries, or combinatorial libraries. In general, combinatorial methods produce collections of molecularly diverse compounds that are used for rapidly testing, either for biological activity or some other useful and desired property. The rapid advance of combinatorial chemistry, has also stimulated advances in several related areas including spectroscopy, analytical methods, computer modeling and databases. Also, advances in automation have allowed compound synthesis to be completely controlled by machines.
Volume 2: Nanotechnology. Dr. Arlan Mantz, physics, Connecticut College and Visiting Expert Dr. D. M. Cox. This program is designed to introduce the vast emerging field of nanotechnology into the academic environment. Nanotechnology encompasses almost any work or device involving construction and utilization of structures and devices which have at least one physical dimension or critical property on the order of one to a few hundred nanometers (10-9 to 10-7 meter) in size. The topics range from the impact of nanoscale on future technology, research possibilities, recent discoveries, and nanotechnology in electronics and the computer industries.
Volume 3: Indigenous Cultures of Spanish America. Dr. Frank Graziano, Hispanic Studies, Connecticut College and Visiting Expert Dr. Luis Millones. Introduces the "Indigenous Cultures of Spanish America" into the academic environment and to facilitate the study of indigenous and syncretic cultures in the undergraduate curriculum. Not intended as a comprehensive or even representative offering of current scholarship, but rather a sampling to suggest approaches to indigenous cultures in themselves, in response to conquest, and in interaction with dominant cultures across the centuries. Each scholar is responsible in style and in content for his contribution.
Volume 4: Genomics and Proteomics. Dr. Martha Grossel, biology, Connecticut College and Visiting Expert Dr. Lucienne Ronco. This module focuses on the fields of genomics and proteomics. Genomics is the study of genes and the genomes - the blueprint to make an organism. Proteomics is the field that studies proteins and their functions. Proteins are the workhorses of the cell, the machinery that conducts vital cellular functions. While we learn by understanding the coding sequence of an organism, it is the study of proteins that will help us to understand how the cell functions in health and disease. This CD will further define and explore these topics. It includes a variety of pedagogical resources designed to allow instructors to mesh new material with existing course syllabi and to target the learner's academic level.
Volume 5: Assessing the Stress Hormone Cortisol. Dr. Ruth Grahn, psychology and behavioral neuroscience, Connecticut College and Visiting Expert Dr. Brian Kalman. The goal of producing this CD-ROM was to provide psychology instructors who do not have extensive experience with biochemical assays a procedure for measuring a hormone that is known to mediate the impact of stress in humans. It can be applied in a variety of situations because the sampling procedure is non-invasive (i.e. blood sampling is not required) and the assay can be completed in a short time with minimal laboratory training and equipment. We anticipate that using this CD-ROM will allow instructors to incorporate a laboratory module into their courses that matches their student’s ever-increasing interest in neuroscience. The CD-ROM includes background information about the stress response system, teaching materials, assay instructions, sample student projects and suggestions of how to incorporate the module into a course.
Volume 6: Bioanalytical Applications of Bioluminescence. Dr. Bruce Branchini, chemistry, Connecticut College and visiting expert professor Aldo Roda. The module includes a historical overview of bioluminescence, the emission of light by living organisms. This natural phenomenon is widely distributed in nature and there are examples of bioluminescent organisms among bacteria, fungi, and insects. The phenomenon is prevalent in the marine environment where bioluminescent jellyfish, crustaceans, mollusks and dinoflagellates are found. The biological and biochemical diversity of the phenomenon as well as bioanalytical applications of bioluminescence from the historical development of the field to the most recently developed commercial methods are explored.
Volume 7: Data Mining, Version 2. Dr. Gary Parker, computer science, Connecticut College and visiting expert Gregory Piatesky-Shapiro. Introduces liberal arts and computer science students to data mining and its use. Data mining looks for correlations in database information, machine learning using algorithms, and artifical intelligence. The CD includes presentations, syllabi, intro course, and viewable lectures.
Volume 8: Aging, Health, and Wellness in Late Adulthood. Visiting Experts Dr. Sue Levkoff, Dr. Hongtu Chen, Dr. Leslie Curry, Beatrice Demitte; Connecticut College's Sarah Barr, Dr. Sunil Bhatia, Dr. Jennifer Fredricks, Dr. Sara Radlinski, Dr. Peggy Sheridan, and Dr. Michelle Dunlap of the Human Development department. This will prepare liberal arts students to understand the issues related to health, wellness and aging during late adulthood by including related material, site visits, and models. The CD serves as an example for other institutions to provide content in order to create a new program or enhance an existing program. Included for faculty and students are: a project proposal, the development process, site visits, and the results including a revised syllabus.
Volume 9: Computer Modeling of Human Thought and Behavior. Dr. Jason Nier and Dr. Ann Devlin, department of psychology, Connecticut College, and Visiting Expert Dr. Andrzej Nowak. This prepares liberal arts students to understand the dynamics of models, simulate phenomena, and analyze results through lecture material, presentation, computer lab models, and computer enhanced courses. We hope to increase financial range of our and other colleges by connecting to other institutions that have needed resources. The CD will introduce cognitive neuroscience, familiarize people with how to work in the lab, familiarize people with the theory of dynamical social psychology research.
Volume 10: Folk Saints: Cultures of Devotion. A photo gallery by Dr. Frank Graziano, Hispanic studies, Connecticut College. The photos in this CD-ROM gallery were taken during research for the book Cultures of Devotion: Folk Saints of Spanish America, which was published by Oxford University Press in 2005. Folk saints, known variously in Spanish America as santos populares, santos paganos, and almas milagrosas, are deceased individuals (some of entirely constructed identity) popularly recognized as miraculous and receive the devotion of a substantial cult, but who are not canonized or officially recognized by the Catholic Church, such as Nino Fidencio, Gaucho Gil, Juana Figueroa, Pedro Jaramillo, Almita Sivila, Pedro Sangueso, Sarito Colonia, Difunta Correa, Pedro Mariscal, Nino Compadrito, Nino Perdido, San la Muerte.
Last Modified: Monday, April 09, 2007 21:14