ChemSemBlog

Seminar in Chemistry at Andrews University is a multipurpose, two credit, two year required course designed to give chemistry and biochemistry juniors and seniors exposure to and experience in retrieval and communication of chemical information. Seniors are required to give two oral presentations, one in Fall and another in Spring. These presentations, guided by a faculty member, can either be literature based or based upon the student’s research experience. 



Seniors learn chemical information retrieval skills enabling them to do literature searches for their oral presentations. The course also provides opportunities for students to develop skills needed in preparing and delivering professional scientific oral presentations in both chalkboard and PowerPoint formats. Students engage in critical evaluation of seminar presentations and are required to ask questions of the speaker.

During each semester an average of twelve (12) invited guest speakers present topics of current interest involving chemistry and biochemistry. A key criteria in the selection of speakers is diversity: academia and industry, graduate students, assistant to full professors, male and female, basic and applied science, and from traditional to emerging fields. This gives our students a rich palette of career options in the chemical sciences and supplements their knowledge base beyond the required courses of the major.



In the past, students have been required to (a) write persuasive essays to assist in finding and selecting guest speakers, (b) write descriptive essays to evaluate the substance and style of the presentations, (c) write ‘popular’ science styled essays about guest presentations for publication in a local community newspaper – Benton Spirit, and (d) actively engage in a lively question and answer period with the guest speakers.

ChemSem is also a great venue for our students and department faculty to network with other professionals, form research collaborations, secure summer research internships and find graduate school opportunities.