Creating Linkages through Institution-wide
Reform of the Science Curriculum

Funded by the Division of Undergraduate Education
National Science Foundation

Principal Investigator: Dr. John Askill
Co-Principal Investigator: Dr Clarence Josefson

Laboratory Exercises Developed in 1997, 1998, and 1999


What activities are common to all of the sciences?


Classification

Classifying Chemical Compounds
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry
Sleuthing with Instruments
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry
Classifying Compounds using Molecular Modeling
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry
Biological Classification
Dr. Matthews
Biology
Life's Third Domain
Dr. Matthews
Biology
The Dental HIV Puzzle
Dr. Matthews
Biology
The Trichotomy
Dr. Matthews
Biology
The Periodic Table
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry
The Symmetries of Strip Patterns
Dr. Czerwinski
Mathematics
Sphere Packing
Dr. Czerwinski
Mathematics


Translating Qualitative Ideas into Data

Studying pH and weak acids
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry
pH and Structure
Dr. Fuentes
Chemistry
Electrophysiology
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry
Mechanical Efficiency of Machines
Dr. Askill
Physics
Use of Protozoa to Study Basic Biological Principles
Dr. McQuistion
Biology
Analyzing Sounds
Dr. Askill
Physics
Work, Torque, and Power of the Human Arm
Dr. Askill
Physics
Ohm's Law, Resistance, and Resistivity
Dr. Askill
Physics
Combustion Calorimetry
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry
The Ups and Downs of Clay Particles
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry
Simple Harmonic Motion
Dr. Askill
Physics
Absorption of Light and Brightness of Surfaces
Dr. Askill
Physics
Photometry - the Comparison of Light Intensities
Dr. Askill
Physics


Showing Relations by Graphing

Finding the Stoichiometry of Reactions
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry
Studying Transition Metal Complexes
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry
Graphing
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry
Kinetics - How fast do Reactions Occur?
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry
Gamma Ray Attenuation by Lead
Dr. Askill
Physics
Oscillations of a Pendulum
Dr. Askill
Physics
Rate of Cooling of a Hot Body
Dr. Askill
Physics
Electrical Decay - the RC circuit
Dr. Askill
Physics
Psychophysics
Dr. St. James
Psychology
Measuring the Mass of Jupiter
Dr. Jim Brown
Physics and Astr.
Sizes of Lunar Features
Dr. Jim Brown
Physics and Astr.
The Sizes of Things
Dr. Jim Brown
Physics and Astr.

Fitting Mathematical Equations to Graphs

Why was Pop or Soda also called Phosphates?
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry
Determining the Copper Content of a Penny
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry
Describing Color - Visually and Instrumentally
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry

Using Instruments to Extend the Senses

Synthesis: Compounds containing Copper
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry
Absorption of Ultraviolet Light by Caffeine
Dr. Bennett
Chemistry
Transmittance and Absorbance
Dr. Bennett
Chemistry
Build a Model of Caffeine
Dr. Bennett
Chemistry
Absorbance and Concentration
Dr. Bennett
Chemistry
Determination of Caffeine Content in an Unknown
Dr. Bennett
Chemistry
Measuring Unfathomable Distances I
Dr. Brown
Physics and Astr.
Measuring Unfathomable Distances II
Dr. Brown
Physics and Astr.

Building and Assessing Models

Construction of a DNA Model
Dr. Handler
Biology
Extraction of DNA from Bacteria
Dr. Handler
Biology
Replication of a DNA model
Dr. Handler
Biology
DNA Replication
Dr. Handler
Biology
Simulating Cell Membranes
Dr. Wilkinson
Biology
Atomic and Ionic Lattices
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry
Cellular Respiration Simulations
Dr. Parrish
Biology
The Water Cycle
Dr.Robertson
Biology

Sampling - Dealing with Variability in Population

Nuclear Counting Statistics
Dr. Askill
Physics

Defining Testable Questions

Investigating the Unique Properties of Water
Dr Parrish
Biology
Polination Module
Dr Parrish
Biology

Putting Experiments into Context

Analyzing for Lead in Real Samples
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry
The Water Project
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry
Studying the Nitrogen Cycle in a Home Aquarium
Dr. Josefson
Chemistry