Math & Science Graduate Fellows in K-12 Education

Fellow: Carla Steinbring, M.S. graduate fellow in Chemistry & Water Resources
Teacher: Cindy Grindy, East High School, 10-12th grade Chemistry

I am a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, Duluth pursuing my masters degree in chemistry, with a minor in water resource sciences.  My research takes place at the Large Lakes  Observatory under the guidance of Dr. Liz Minor.  Our lab focuses on studying dissolved organic matter in freshwater.  My project looks specifically using a technique called Fourier-Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectroscopy (FT ICR MS) to characterize dissolved organic natural matter (DOM) in the Lake Superior watershed.  This is of importance because DOM plays a large role in the global carbon cycle and by characterizing DOM, we may be able to see a link between terrestrial and aquatic DOM in rivers and estuaries and their receiving basins (oceans or lakes).

At East High School, I interact with the students once a week.  During labs, I act as an extra set of eyes and ears to help the students, and I also probe them with questions to promote their curiosity in the classroom.  During lectures, I chime in with ways I have used the skills they are learning in my research.  During review sessions, I ask the students questions to gauge their understanding of the material and clear any misconceptions they may hold.  I have shared some data from my research with the students and presented them with some of the methods I frequently use in lab. I am amazed at some of the questions students ask and at times their enthusiasm gets me excited to explore other areas of chemistry!  Working with high school students has given me an excellent opportunity to learn ways to communicate what I am learning to a general audience.  In addition, exposing high school students to current research allows them to see what being a scientist looks like.  I hope to share with students how dynamic and global the field of chemistry and science is in our technology driven world.

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