Incorporating analytical research experience into the undergraduate curriculum.

Chemistry is inherently a laboratory-based discipline. Even historically, where instructors often exclusively demonstrated chemical phenomena to the class, the value and need for students to carry out their own experiments was clearly recognized [1]. As such, practical laboratory work is frequently included as an established part of many modern university chemistry programs [1]. Over the years, student enrollment on many campuses has increased significantly and, at least here in Canada, it is expected to continue along this trajectory and rise 14 % by 2020 [2]. As a result, class sizes have increased considerably in undergraduate chemistry courses, which lead to little personal interaction between instructors and students, and can inhibit new and even traditional elements of instruction [3]. Further, this also greatly impacts the ability of programs to provide laboratory experience to students since the facilities, materials, and staffing requirements for this are increasingly very expensive to maintain [1]. Different approaches have evolved in response to such enrollment pressure over the last couple of decades. For example, many programs have invoked some form of computerassisted laboratory teaching to accommodate increasing student numbers [1]. However, this can unfortunately reduce the amount of direct practical chemistry experience that students acquire, and can adversely influence their perception of laboratory work, which can be quite negative [1]. As a result, chemical educators are continually advocating for more engaging, active learning environments for students, even in large enrollment courses [4]. Since practical skills have long been a hallmark of solid training for chemical analysts, it follows that laboratory experience in the teaching of analytical chemistry also remains critical. Therefore, universities can further benefit from exploring new ways of providing practical and engaging laboratory work for analytical students. Here, we briefly describe our experience with a new course started 4 years ago at the University of Calgary entitled BChemistry 402: Introduction to Research in Chemistry.^ The course is aimed at providing a relatively simple route for students to acquire practical and interesting experience in research as part of their undergraduate degree. In view of this, the following discusses how this course can be beneficial in offering chemistry students an engaging and relevant exposure to analytical research and practical laboratory work.