Provides a course description of a geology/ecology program for nonscience students based in the Canadian Rockies. Reviews on-campus preparations and includes samples of discussion topics and essay questions used during the trip. Student evaluation responses are also presented. (ML)

Highlights the value and need for instruction in logic in the sciences. Describes a geology course for nonmajors which incorporates elements of logic. Explains how principles were identified and how materials and activities were developed for the course. (ML)

Describes a laboratory experiment which focuses on the importance of water in germination and seedling emergence. Discusses the activity's design, expected results, and possible application. Offers suggestions for extending the experiment. (ML)

Describes the National Association of Geology Teachers and the United States Geological Survey's Cooperative Summer Field Training Program. Reviews its origins, eligibility requirements, nomination and selection criteria, and includes summaries of participant evaluation of the 1985 program. (ML)

Describes how microcomputer spreadsheets are easily adapted for use in groundwater modeling. Presents spreadsheet set-ups and the results of five groundwater models. Suggests that this approach can provide a basis for demonstrations, laboratory exercises, and student projects. (ML)

Tested two hypotheses: (1) formal reasoning is required to balance simple one-step equations; and (2) formal reasoning plus sufficient mental capacity are required to balance many-step equations. Independent variables included intellectual development, mental capacity, and degree of field dependence/independence. With 25 subjects, significance was…

A previous article stated that only the matrix method was powerful enough to balance a particular chemical equation. Shows how this equation can be balanced without using the matrix method. The approach taken involves writing partial mathematical reactions and redox half-reactions, and combining them to yield the final balanced reaction. (JN)

Guidelines for successful university ties with industry are discussed. Topics covered include publication rights, patents, copyrights, confidentiality, research units, faculty consultants, faculty entrepreneurs, international agreements, sharing personnel/equipment, and model research agreements. Advocates that success lies in anticipating…

Describes the Syracuse University Technology Clusters aimed at building a science foundation, knowledge of technological advances, and decision making about technology use for liberal arts majors. Discusses enrollment, course structure, student characteristics, and future development. (JM)

Proposes a model for kinetic processes said to be similar in computational effort and yielding similar results to conventional transition state theory (TST), while maintaining parsimony and credulity. Argues that partitioning of states into groups be limited to energy space in contrast to TST. (JM)

Discusses an acid-base neutralization exercise requiring groups of students to determine: (1) combinations of solutions giving neutralization; (2) grouping solutions as acids or bases; and (3) ranking groups in order of concentration. (JM)

Discusses an experiment designed to introduce students to the basic principles of the fast Fourier transform and Fourier smoothing through transformation of time-dependent optical absorption data from an oscillating reaction. Uses the Belousov-Zhabotinskii reaction. Describes the experimental setup and data analysis techniques.

Describes recruitment efforts aimed at attracting women students to the engineering technology program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Discusses five activities undertaken: (1) secondary school visits; (2) counselor's workshops; (3) women's day programs; (4) literature packets; and (5) follow-up surveys. Women's enrollment is 16…

The Industrial Associates Program (IAP) at Purdue University is a formal organization to coordinate department-industry interactions. Philosophy, features, and projects of IAP are discussed. Indicates that a new effort will aim at setting up a sort of "Industrial Extension Service" (analogous to agricultural programs) to help industries…

Six high school and college chemistry teachers describe what they do on the first day of class. These edited papers were presented in a symposium titled "My First Day of Class" at the Eighth (1984) Biennial Conference on Chemical Education. (JN)