Instead of making students learn by rote memory of scientific theories, Hamilton faculty encourage "discovery based, project oriented model of laboratory exercises. " For example, students will make an observation, and then are asked to formulate hypotheses that may explain the observation. Additional labs will be student-designed to test these hypotheses.
"We believe that the best way for students to learn science is to be engaged in well-designed, hands-on, investigative laboratory experiences that expose them to the excitement of research and ignite their interest in science," said assistant professor of biology Herm Lehman. Lehman, with Ian Rosenstein, assistant professor of chemistry, and Tim Elgren, associate professor of chemistry, received the grant. "The goals for these exercises are to better prepare students for independent research by repeated exposure to modern methodologies and instrumentation, analytical skills and hypothesis testing."
Lehman said that the incorporation of capillary electrophoresis and isothermal titration calorimetry instruments, which will be purchased with the grant money, will significantly expand the experiences that can be offered by allowing students to collect physical and analytical data rapidly and with great precision. The new instrumentation will be integrated into the biology, chemistry and biochemistry curriculum, to assist students to engage in discourse of topics that they might have previously deferred to "experts". Access to the equipment will prepare students for the demands associated with independent research, which is a graduation requirement for all majors.
