Seminar in Applied Chemistry-One
Way to Get Acquainted with Local Industrial Chemists
Many colleges and universities who have not heretofore had academic programs involving cooperation with industry are currently recognizing the need to develop such programs. It is noteworthy that in recent policy statements the American Chemical Society endorses "the concept that work experience can he a valuable aspect of the education of chemists and encourages the introduction of cooperative programs into chemistry curricula." (Chem. and Eng. News, Jan. 19,1976, p. A',
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Implementation of work experience and other programs involving the assistance of industrial chemists will require that academicians first identifv,and become acouainted with ootential industrial oarticioants. ~~~~, One n n y a chemiarryd~partmmrcan eatahhshrontact, and perhupsrvurking rtlations.w~thlr,ral industriesand inho. raulrwi i ; tr, tn\~olrechrnm~sri irum t h m initallationii in the plraenwtiun ofa rcrlesufreminars spotlighting applied chrmlstry, 2nd the r a h t l f the rhrmtst therr~n.The yrimnry purpose of r w h s scmmar beries nuuld of wurar hz t < t help f n m h r i z e students with chemistry as i t exists beyond an academic setting. Such a series, involving twenty-two visiting chemists in eighteen seminars was recently conducted a t the University of Georgia. The seminars were set up so that students could receive one hour credit by attending all of the sessions, but they were also open to other students and instructors who wished to attend any numher of the sessions. "limitation" All of the visitine,.chemists reoresented comoanies and laboratories located within the state. This ,.eeoma~hic .. purptwly imposed-the irnmedratc goal uirhrn the I)rpsrtmr,rt eras r t , becunnr nqtmintrd w t h I r c a l indu.dries and qwcrnmrnr lahwaturie~.Ft~rthermore.11 wa, brl~evedthat locd wmprtnirs and agenrirs wmld haw an mtcrrsr in local studtt~t.and he more willrng turontributc thrir tlmeand resources to the seminars pr.qrrr than u,uuld uthcriours~dethe state. A numher of the chemists who accepted the invitation to participate in the series were graduates of the University who perhaps saw the occasion as an opportunity to revisit the Department. All the speakers were of course given an opportunity to "tour" the Department or talk with faculty members. None of the representatives received any compensation from the University; each was sponsored entirely by his company or agency. Thus, the entire series amounted to a considerable contribution on the o a t of the oartieioatine comoanies and laboratories. , I Iw seminar. presented wrre generally non-technical in nature. Some rcpresrnmrws prrtrnrrd n w r r r y ot'chemiitrr. ;I.; it applied ro their iuperetiws whi.r urherichnwn moresperific nrpect uf chrmetr,,. iuch nssurfacr rhrm~stry. and disrus~td its applications in their work. An informal atmosphere was maintained in ell sessions and students engaged in free exchange with the speakers during their presentations. Through this arrangement it was made apparent to students that various companies and laboratories, like chemists, are individualistic, with each having its own personality and philosophy. The low-keyed and conservative types were present as were the ever-in-the-publie-image types. Large corporations, small eomnanies and subsidiaries of laree " comoanies were re~resented. All sneakers conducted eood or excellent sessions and cornoared favorablv in sneaking ahilitv with the academicians ~~
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actually participated. All the government laboratories contacted provided speakers. One important characteristic all the representatives had in common was a sincere interest in students and education. It isnotahle that a representative portion of the industrial community were interested in educational projects of the University. This indicates that a chemistry department seeking to establish working relations with industry need not be discouraged by the fact that some companies cannot or will not participate in their programs. Companies and agencies whonre interested are present in sufficient number and strendh ,. to contribute suhstantiallv in Droerams where their assistance is needed. I
