CH-106-UR: Chemistry and the Arts
Undergraduate Research

Pre-requisites:

None.

Hours:

3 Class hours 2 Laboratory hours 4 Credits

Course description:

This course (i) describes the overlap between chemistry and art and (ii) emphasizes writing about the interface between the two disciplines and reading about them in the popular press. The lecture covers the theoretical foundations of the chemical processes in common artistic techniques. The laboratory provides hands-on applications of the theory and practices underpinning work with photography, paints, textiles, and sculpture. Students who successfully complete CH-106 gain a fundamental understanding of their methods and materials. The course also presents the analytical and practical techniques of art preservation, art authentication, and art forensics, and safety in the workshop. Lectures and in-class activities demonstrate the relevance of chemistry to non-science majors.

Curricula for which the course is required or recommended:

Chemistry and the Arts (CH-106) is required for students in the Digital Arts and Design program and recommended for those in the Gallery and Museum Studies program. This course satisfies the laboratory science requirement for the A.A. degree, but may not be used as part of the mathematics or science concentration for an A.A.S. degree.

General education objectives:

1. To use analytical reasoning and apply logic to understand the scientific study of materials used in constructing works of art.
2. To integrate qualitative and quantitative knowledge in understanding the connections between chemistry and art.
3. To identify problems in everyday life and to use scientific methods learned in the course to find solutions.
4. To work collaboratively in diverse groups toward accomplishing learning objectives.
5. To employ concepts and methods of the physical sciences in making informed judgments.

Course objectives and expected student learning outcomes:

Students receive an introduction to the relevance of chemistry to art and begin to understand the basis of the physical properties of materials used in art; they learn safe handling of hazardous chemicals commonly used in art; they apply the scientific method to explore natural phenomena such as light, color, and erosion of sculptures or building materials; they work in pairs to perform hands-on experiments that relate scientific theory to artistic practice; they gather, analyze, and interpret data to draw conclusions related to various art-forms, such as photography, painting, textiles, and lithography; they document their findings in effectively written laboratory reports; they identify and apply ethical research practice and unbiased assessment in gathering and reporting scientific data or others' findings in laboratory reports, research papers, and oral presentations.

Undergraduate Research Learning Outcomes:

• Communicate effectively through reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
• Use analytical reasoning skills to identify issues or problems and evaluate evidence in order to make informed descisions.
• Use information management and technology skills effectively for academic research and lifelong learning.
• Integrate knowledge and skills in their program of study.
• Work collaboratively in diverse groups directed at accomplishing learning objectives.
• Employ concepts and methods of the natural and physical sciences to make informed judgments.
• Apply aesthetic and intellectual criteria in the evaluation or creation of works in the humanities or the arts.

Course-Specific Learning Objectives Addressed by the Research Project:

• Students will be introduced to the relevance of chemistry as well as the fundamental understanding of the materials used in art.
• Students will work in groups of two to perform experiments and gain hands-on experience correlating theory and practice involved in works of arts.
• Students will perform experiments, gather, analyze and interpret data and draw conclusions related to works of arts such as photography, painting, textiles and metal etching.
• Students will document their findings in effective written laboratory reports.
• Students will identify and apply research ethics and unbiased assessment in gathering and reporting scientific data when writing laboratory reports and research papers.

   

Text:

Orna, Maria Virginia, and Madeline P. Goodstein. Chemistry and Artists' Colors. 2nd ed. New Rochelle, NY: College of New Rochelle, 1998. Print.

ISBN: 0-9637747-0-0

Laboratory Manual:

Karimi, Sasan, Tirandai Hemraj-Benny, and Mihaela D. Bojin. Chemistry and the Arts: Laboratory Manual. 2nd ed. Minneapolis, MN: bluedoor, LLC, 2012. Print.

ISBN: 978-1-59984-517-3

Evaluation of students:

The following distribution may be changed at the discretion of the instructor.

Accommodations for students with disabilities:

Any student who feels that he or she may need an accommodation because of the impact of a documented disability should speak with the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities Rm. S-132 of the Science Building (phone: 718-631-6257) to discuss his or her specific needs and to coordination reasonable accommodations. A student may also speak privately with the instructor.

Academic integrity:

Academic honesty is required of all students. All assignments must be new and original work of the student (or group of students, where applicable). Resubmitting assignments composed for other courses or semesters is a form of plagiarism, and is subject to academic discipline. Any outside references used in completing assignments must be cited appropriately. Consult the instructor for questions or concerns regarding ethical conduct.

It is the official policy of the College that all acts or attempted acts that are violations of academic integrity be reported to the Office of Student Affairs (OSA). At the faculty member's discretion and with the concurrence of the student or students involved, some cases, though reported to the OSA, may be resolved within the confines of the course and department. The instructor has the authority to adjust the offender's grades as deemed appropriate, including assigning an F to the assignment or exercise or, in more serious cases, and F to the student for the entire semester.

--QCC Academic Integrity Policy, 2/14/2005

Attendance policy:

Attendance is taken at every class. The Student Handbook states that missing 15% or more of the total contact hours for a course constitutes excessive absence and earns a grade of WU (unofficial withdrawal). A WU is computed as an F in a GPA (grade point average).

Students who have a valid excuse for a missed class should speak with the instructor and present documentation that explains the absence. The instructor may forgive late or missing work assigned or collected during an excused absence. Note that excused absences do count toward excessive absence and a possible grade of WU.

• If a class meets twice per week, a total of 7 or more absences automatically earns a WU.
• If a class meets only once per week, a total of 4 or more absences automatically earns a WU.

Laboratory policy:

All students in CH-106 must complete the laboratory portion of the course. Before perform any experiments, all students must (i) view the American Chemical Society video on safety; (ii) pass a safety quiz; and (iii) read and sign the safety declaration sheet on laboratory policy. Safety in the lab is mandatory. No student may work in lab without viewing the safety video. Additional make-up showings of the safety video are held during the first three weeks of classes.

Students who do not wear proper attire in the laboratory are marked absent and receive no credit for the laboratory that day. Students must wear safety goggles in the lab at all times. Department policy forbids shorts, short skirts, tank tops, cropped tops, sandals, open-toed shoes, loose long hair, and any food or drink.

Pre-laboratory preparation often includes a short explanation of the experimental method and potential hazards by the instructor. Because missing this pre-lab may leave a student ignorant of dangers, instructors may penalize the grade of any student who arrives late to the experiment, and may also mark the student absent and ban him or her from participation that day.

Each student writes his or her own full laboratory report after each experiment. Lab reports are due at the following meeting of the lab. The instructor explains the grading and proper format of laboratory reports.

Three (3) or more absences from lab automatically earn a grade of WU in both the lab and lecture. Both excused and unexcused absences from lab count toward excessive absence. Additionally, any student who has not viewed the safety video and passed the quiz by the third meeting of laboratory has accumulated three absences from lab and may not continue in the course. The student must withdraw or earn a WU.

Each instructor explains all other laboratory policies in further detail.