Welcome to Applied Chemistry and Society: CHE 124, a four-credit lab science course offered online by the UW Colleges! In this course, students will explore chemistry with an approach that shows the process of science and the ways in which chemistry impacts their lives every day. The topics that will be examined will demonstrate the ways in which chemists look at the world, learn from what they observe, and then extend what they know by making new materials or crafting solutions to problems. Students will explore chemistry in a problem-solving context, learning chemistry as they need it to understand parts of a contemporary societal problem. Some of the skills that students will need or develop in this course are: analytical thinking skills, communication and language skills, the ability to examine a problem critically, and the ability to find and use data to support positions on issues.

Some of the major topics include:

• What is the "ozone hole" and why is it a concern? What causes it, and what can be done about it?
• What do we know about global warming? Should we be worried about it? Is there anything we could (or should) be doing about it?
• What do we mean by acid rain?
• What are the pros and cons of nuclear energy?

A note about math: As stated in the course description, this is a non-mathematical treatment of chemistry. This means that it does not focus on numeric problem-solving, but this does not mean that students will not be using numbers at all. Students must use numbers to understand statistics as reported in the press, to compare unit systems, and to convert science terms into everyday terms. Laboratory work requires precise measurement, and students must use numbers and units to describe and compare measurements. Students will be collecting, manipulating, and interpreting data, and much data in science is numeric. The instructor will be available to offer guidance and support every step of the way. In addition to text readings there are commentaries with examples and discussion boards. Communication with the instructor is done through paging, email, and options available through the course management system.

How to succeed in a science course: Learning chemistry is similar in some ways to learning to play the piano or to speak Russian. It requires a lot of practice to become familiar with the vocabulary, the pace of the work, and the new ways of thinking in this new environment. Students will have ample opportunity to practice in this course, and will be expected to provide evidence of their work several times each week. This steady work toward meeting the goals of the course will help their chances at success in the course, but they must make the commitment to do the work to learn.