VC3Chem

What is VC3Chem? Funded under NSF CCLI award #1022992, Visualizing the Chemistry of Climate Change (VC3Chem) has the goal to develop and disseminate a series of interactive web-based digital learning objects to help first year undergraduate chemistry students visualize and understand the chemistry underlying global climate change. The resources aim to (a) exemplify science education for sustainability, (b) improve the understanding of climate change by both undergraduate students and faculty members, and (c) provide "best-practice" resources to support chemistry instructors in adopting active-learning pedagogies that situate cognition in authentic science practice and globally important contexts. The efficacy of these tools and this approach will be assessed by measuring changes in students' understanding about both climate change and core chemistry concepts taught through climate change science. The project will also produce a validated inventory of climate change concepts for use in further research.

The VC3Chem Team: The 3-year project is carried out by an interdisciplinary team of collaborators from Purdue University, The King's Centre for Visualization in Science (King's University, Edmonton), and the American Chemical Society. Team members are:

Project Principal Investigators and co-Principal Investigators

  • Marcy Towns, Purdue University (PI)
  • Mary Kirchhoff, American Chemical Society (co-PI)
  • Peter Mahaffy, The King's University and the King's Centre for Visualization in Science (co-PI)
  • Brian Martin, The King's University and the King's Centre for Visualization in Science (co-PI)

Other Team Members (faculty)

  • Thomas Holme, Iowa State University (evaluator)
  • Lallie McKenzie, Chem11 (ACS)
  • Cathy Middlecamp, University of Wisconsin
  • Paul Shepson, Purdue University
  • Rob MacDonald, The King's University

Other Team Members (students)

  • Denyse Dawe, The King's Centre for Visualization in Science (undergraduate student)
  • Tyler deBoon, The King's Centre for Visualization in Science (undergraduate student)
  • David Dykstra, The King's Centre for Visualization in Science (undergraduate student)
  • Darren Eymundson, The King's Centre for Visualization in Science (undergraduate student)
  • Nathan Franke, The King's Centre for Visualization in Science (undergraduate student)
  • Theo Keeler, The King's Centre for Visualization in Science (undergraduate student)
  • Marc-Olivier Lajeuneuse, The King's Centre for Visualization in Science (undergraduate student)
  • Mckenzie Oliver, The King's Centre for Visualization in Science (undergraduate student)
  • Matt Price, The King's Centre for Visualization in Science (undergraduate student)
  • Anna Prisacari, Iowa State University (graduate student)
  • Ashley Ritter, The King's Centre for Visualization in Science (undergraduate student)
  • Anna Schwalfenberg, The King's Centre for Visualization in Science (undergraduate student)
  • Kristen Tjostheim, The King's Centre for Visualization in Science (undergraduate student)
  • Darrel Vandenbrink, The King's Centre for Visualization in Science (undergraduate student)
  • Ashley Versprille, Purdue University (graduate student)
  • Joseph Zondervan, The King's Centre for Visualization in Science (undergraduate student)
  • Shawn Ritter, The King's Centre for Visualization in Science (undergraduate student)
  • Kalley Lasola, The King's Centre for Visualization in Science (undergraduate student)

Expert Reviewers

  • Dr. Jerry Bell
  • Dr. Tyler Coplen
  • Dr. Roald Hoffmann
  • Dr. Chad Hogan
  • Dr. Norman Holden
  • Dr. Bob Kolvoord
  • Larissa Richards

Contact: For further information about Visualizing the Chemistry of Climate Change, email us at Peter.Mahaffy@kingsu.ca or at kcvs.ca@gmail.com