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First-year chemistry students learn data analytics in new lab curriculum

Prof. Martin Gruebele, far left, joins his team that created a low-cost method for teaching community college students the basics of instrument assembly and data analysis. The colors of the spectrum are broken down as they use a spectrometer built from a kit to use in analyzing dyed fluids. From left, Prof. Martin Gruebele, Alison Wallum, Amy Nicely and Zetai Liu.

A team of scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Rice University and Danville Area Community College has created an affordable laboratory curriculum for teaching advanced data analysis techniques and instrument building to first-year general chemistry students.

Students in the course at DACC get a first-hand look at the inside of a spectrometer by building a simple one from a kit and discover how they can use programming and data science techniques to extract hidden information from chemical measurements, the scientists say.