Crystallography at CCSU- Twenty years of teaching crystallography to undergraduates at a small regional undergraduate institution

TL;DR

This paper discusses how a small university integrated crystallography into undergraduate education over 20 years, enhancing research and student learning.

Contribution

The paper highlights the long-term impact of introducing crystallography at a small regional university, emphasizing student engagement and research growth.

Findings

The university obtained a single crystal diffractometer through an NSF MRI grant.

Undergraduate students gained hands-on experience with crystallographic methods and data refinement.

The XRD enhanced departmental research and fostered collaborations.

Abstract

Central Connecticut State University is a small public PUI that offers BS degrees in Chemistry & Biochemistry. Twenty years ago, we were successful in obtaining an NSF MRI grant for a single crystal diffractometer. Since then, we have added power diffraction capabilities and published crystallographic data gathered by multiple faculty and myriad students. The XRD has fundamentally redefined our Department, enriched our research, enhanced our collaborations, and, most importantly, allowed undergraduate students access to hands-on crystallographic methods and data refinement. A summary of the in-house and collaborative research of our students is presented.