Two Week Summer Training Program in Environmental Chemistry at UCI for Science Teachers of Grades 7-12

  • Do you want to know what causes the Santa Ana Mountains to disappear from view on hot, sunny days?

  • Would you like to learn how scientists measure the amounts of air pollutants in the air you breathe?

  • Are you curious to know how the molecular properties of these air pollutants are calculated?

  • Do you want to simulate the effect of removing all cars from local highways to see how it affects the air quality in the Los Angeles basin?

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If you are intrigued by these questions and concerned about our environment, sign up for the training and outreach program in Environmental Chemistry for Science teachers at UCI.

You will have access to modern instrumental analysis and computer laboratories under the guidance of professional researchers from the AirUCI Environmental Molecular Sciences Institute at UC Irvine. 

You will visit cutting-edge research laboratories and use modern analytical instruments and computer packages for environmental research. 

Come and share the excitement of scientific discoveries with us!

View the 2006 course web page

Sponsor:           AirUCI Institute, with support from NSF
Date & Time:    June 25-29, July 2-3, July 5-6, 2007
                             (no class on 4th of July)
Location:          UCI Chemistry Department
 Course Code:  CHEM X416 (6 quarter units)

Program Goals: To provide middle school and high school teachers with hands-on laboratory and computational experience in environmentally-oriented problems.  Local teachers from Orange County schools will receive strong preference. Applications from residents of other countries will not be considered.

Program Description: This is a two-week training program consisting of lectures in the mornings followed by laboratory work in the afternoons.  The hands-on lab work will focus on selected environmental problems.  Supporting lectures will be offered by AirUCI faculty members.  There will be a tour of several UCI research laboratories.

Sample Projects:

  1. Simulations of molecular structures of simple air pollutants such as ozone and nitrogen dioxide

  2. Simulations of air pollution dynamics in the Los Angeles basin

  3. Measurement of ozone levels produced by certain indoor air purifiers

  4. Detection of PAHs in cigarette smoke and soils with liquid chromatographic technique

Administrative Details: Participating teachers will receive a stipend of $1000 each.  In addition, lunch will be provided each day and free parking permits will be issued to teachers.  Because the class size is limited to 20 attendees, participants will be accommodated on a first come, first served basis.  Registration deadline is May 1, 2007.

Register for the next workshop!

Some Comments from Teachers in Previous Workshops:
"This program was an incredible experience for me... every day I still find it hard to believe that you were paying me to be here!"

"This was one of the best professional development workshops I have ever attended... the coordination of the whole program was truly impressive!"

"This program was the best experience I’ve had as a science teacher!  The chemistry was both a good review, but also very relevant to our world.  I can’t wait to get my lesson for next year together!"

"For those of us who have students who will be imminently attending UCs, this program significantly enhances our ability to effectively convey what opportunities they’ll have as options.  This also enables us to speak with more authenticity when the odd/off-the-wall queries from students arise.  Thank you!"

UCI Contacts:
Prof. Sergey Nizkorodov, Summer Training Program Instructor
949-824-1262   nizkorod@uci.edu

Melissa Sweet,  AirUCI Project Coordinator  
949-824-2628   msweet@uci.edu 



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