“Who am I to bring diversity into the classroom?” Learning communities wrestle with creating inclusive college classrooms

This study explored the experiences of gateway course instructors during the implementation of pedagogical changes aimed at improving the success of diverse students. A detailed case study was built through analysis of peer observations, focus groups, oral and written reflections, student grades, in-depth interviews, and pre and post student surveys. Results showed that instructors faced three major challenges in implementing pedagogical changes: pragmatic challenges, student-centered challenges, and challenges to instructor self-concept. Embracing a learning paradigm and participating in a learning community helped instructors to manage these challenges and create more inclusive learning environments for students

Sorption of metals by extracellular polymers from the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa fo. flos-aquae strain C3-40

The sorption of cadmium (II), copper (II), lead (II),manganese (II), and zinc (II) by purified capsularpolysaccharide from the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosafo. flos-aquae strainC3-40 was examined by four methods: equilibriumdialysis, metal removal from solution as detected byvoltammetry, metal accumulation by capsule-containingalginate beads, and calorimetry. The polysaccharide's saturation binding capacities for these metals rangedfrom 1.2 to 4 mmol of metal g-1 of capsule, whichcorresponds to 1 metal equivalent per 2 to 4saccharide subunits of the polymer. Competitionbetween paired metals was tested with simultaneous andsequential additions of metal. Cadmium (II) andlead (II), as well as lead (II) and zinc (II), competedrelatively equally and reciprocally for polymerbinding sites. In contrast, manganese (II) stronglyinhibited the binding of cadmium (II) and lead (II), butitself was not substantially inhibited by either theprior or simultaneous adsorption of cadmium (II) or lead (II).The data are interpreted with respect to overlap ofbinding sites and possibilities of altered polymerconformation or solvation. Calorimetric studies oflead (II) and cadmium (II) association reactions withthe polysaccharide suggest that the enthalpies aresmall and that the reactions may be driven by entropy

Building an “old girls’ network” in academic science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

Over the last decade the University of Wisconsin (UW) System has repeatedly faced budget shortfalls. Reductions in state funding led to increased course loads, class sizes, and turnover of administrators and faculty, producing chronic low morale (e.g., Read 2016). Amidst this turmoil, senior women scientists from campuses across the UW System met annually to offer support, promote retention and achievement of individual members, and build a network of women who could enact systemic change on their individual campuses. The chapter describes the history and components of the 11-campus program, provides examples of the participants’ resiliency and resourcefulness, and identifies ways in which the women’s senior status and disciplinary skills led to effective change

The synthesis, structure and lewis acidity of bidentate organotin alkanes and carboxylates

A series of bis(diphenylbromostannyl)alkanes of the type (C6H5)2BrSn(CH2)nSnBr(C6H5)2, where n = 6, 10 and 12, and a series of bis(tributylstannyl)carboxylates of the type (n-C4H9)3SnO2C(CH2)nCO2Sn(n-C4H9)3, where n = 2, 6, 10, 12 and 14, were prepared. Tin-119 solid state NMR of the carboxylates indicated that the compounds contain five-coordinate, structurally-equivalent tins in the solid state. Adduct formation with triethylphosphine oxide (TEPO) for both the alkanes and carboxylates was monitored by phosphorus-31 NMR. Equilibrium constants for the alkanes were approximately independent of chain length from n = 6 to 12, while for the carboxylates, the constants for n = 2 and n = 14 were small. Equilibrium constants for the intermediate chains were approximately the same. Solid state NMR shows that the 1:1 TEPO adduct of the n = 12 carboxylate contains two different tin atoms, both of which are five-coordinate, and that the adduct is probably not symmetrically chelated. © 1995, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved