Reflections on Inclusive Teaching

The COVID-era has left a lasting impression on each of us. How are college educators applying the full complexity of these experiences to their work to make teaching and learning in all modalities more welcoming, meaningful, and fulfilling for everyone? This reflection opens a conversation about inclusive teaching and invites you to be part of it

Electron Beam Induced Chemistry of Lithographic Materials

Experimental apparatus has been designed to study the solid state electron beam chemistry of lithographic materials. Thin organic films are simultaneously analyzed in situ with several different spectroscopic tools throughout the electron beam exposure. The equipment has enabled us to determine, in situ, the reaction paths for product formation when organic films are irradiated with high energy (25 keV) electron beams. In addition, cross sections for the electron beam chemistry are defined by monitoring the changes in optical absorption for a molecular species as a function of incident electron beam dose; these are very useful for providing a direction for synthesis of new materials. Studies using the methods described above are presented for an important lithographic system, AZ-type resists which contain diazo ketones as sensitizers

In Search of Belonging Online: Achieving Equity through Transformative Professional Development

Abstract Online classes hold the potential to expand college access to Black, Latino/a/x, Indigenous, and other students of color who must be supported to diversify the STEM workforce. Research shows that fostering belonging is key to the academic success of students from minoritized groups. However, online classes often lack interpersonal interactions and are often left out of research about the positive impacts of belonging. This paper summarizes an equity-focused STEM grant project that produced an openly-shared online professional development program, the Humanizing Online STEM Academy. Through the Academy, STEM faculty are introduced to a model of humanized online teaching that centers belonging as a way to address equity gaps. Participant survey responses present opportunities for future research about belonging in online courses

Anomalous Behavior of Ru for Catalytic Oxidation: A Theoretical Study of the Catalytic Reaction CO + 1/2 O_2 --> CO_2

Recent experiments revealed an anomalous dependence of carbon monoxide oxidation at Ru(0001) on oxygen pressure and a particularly high reaction rate. Below we report density functional theory calculations of the energetics and reaction pathways of the speculated mechanism. We will show that the exceptionally high rate is actuated by a weakly but nevertheless well bound (1x1) oxygen adsorbate layer. Furthermore it is found that reactions via scattering of gas-phase CO at the oxygen covered surface may play an important role. Our analysis reveals, however, that reactions via adsorbed CO molecules (the so-called Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism) dominate.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, Phys. Rev. Letters, Feb. 1997, in prin

Infrared spectra and optical constants of astronomical ices: III. Propane, propylene, and propyne

Infrared (IR) spectra of the hydrocarbon ices C3H8 (propane), C3H6 (propylene, propene), and C3H4 (propyne, methylacetylene) are relevant to the study of the low-temperature chemistry and spectroscopy of objects within and beyond the Solar System, but IR band strengths and absorption coefficients are lacking for these compounds. Here we present new IR spectra of crystalline and non-crystalline forms of C3H8, C3H6, and C3H4. Measurements of ice density and refractive index also are reported, two quantities needed to compute IR absorption coefficients, band strengths, optical constants, and, ultimately, abundances of propane, propylene, and propyne in extraterrestrial environments and in laboratory experiments. Suggestions and interpretations are offered regarding the multiple crystalline forms of propane and propylene observed. Applications and extensions are described