Environmental Chemistry

Experiment in Environmental Chemistry

－Exploring Water Around Us
via Chemical Analysis－

We offer a 4-day intensive practical course in analytical chemistry for 1st and 2nd year undergraduate students. This course is designed to provide the opportunity for students in science as well as humanities majors to experience chemistry experiments through chemical analysis of water samples, and to actively discuss their obtained data.

Students will freely design their experiments through deciding what type of water samples to test, what kind of chemical analyses to conduct, and how to analyze or discuss the obtained data. First, they will set the goals or hypotheses for their own original experiments based on the common subject, "water." Then, they will make a plan on how to achieve their goals or prove their hypotheses. Water samples may be collected from: (1) any buildings, the pond, and/or the stream on campus, (2) anywhere in Japan and/or overseas, and (3) bottled mineral water from anywhere in Japan and/or overseas.

On the final day of the course, each student will give a presentation to share their findings. Each presenter will be evaluated through 360-degree feedback, including peer reviews from other students. Through this process, students will experience research process, and deepen their understanding towards how to design and carry out research. Every year, we receive positive feedbacks from students for letting them freely explore their own projects by providing various resources and thorough support.