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Inquiry-based and research-based laboratory pedagogies in undergraduate science

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Undergraduate research experiences help retain students in science majors and prepare our workforce for increasingly competitive jobs. Course-based approaches to research and inquiry allow educators to reach larger numbers of students and provide an entry into further research experiences.

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Figure 1: Inquiry and research exist on a continuum, from a pure verification experience in class to a full-fledged research experience.
Figure 2: Students carrying out measurements on contact angle goniometers.

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Acknowledgements

The Center for Authentic Science Practice in Education is funded by the US National Science Foundation through the Division of Chemistry, award #0418902.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gabriela C. Weaver and Cianán B. Russell are in the Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.,

    Gabriela C Weaver & Cianán B Russell

  2. Donald J. Wink is in the Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 West Taylor Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA. gweaver@purdue.edu,

    Donald J Wink

Authors
  1. Gabriela C Weaver
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  2. Cianán B Russell
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  3. Donald J Wink
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Weaver, G., Russell, C. & Wink, D. Inquiry-based and research-based laboratory pedagogies in undergraduate science. Nat Chem Biol 4, 577–580 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchembio1008-577

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