ACADEMIC VITA

 LEE R. MAREK

Lmarek@aol.com, lmarek@fnal.gov, lmarek2@uic.edu

Lee Marek's Home Page

EDUCATION

·         M.S.  1975, Roosevelt University, Chicago, Chemistry, Graduated with Honors

·         M.S.  1973, Roosevelt University, Chicago, Physics

·         B.S.  1968, University of Illinois, Chemical Engineering, Edmund J. James Scholar, Graduated High Honors & Distinction, Member Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honorary), Member Phi Lambda Upsilon (Chemistry Honorary)

·         Completed additional course work at the following institutions: Argonne National Lab, Univ. of Cal. Berkeley, Aurora Univ., Eastern Michigan Univ., Univ. of Texas, Univ. of Arizona, DePaul Univ., Governors State, San Diego State, Penn State, IIT, Univ. of Wisconsin La Crosse & Madison, Princeton Univ., Elgin Comm. College & D.O.E., National College of Ed., Southern Illinois Univ., Fermi National Accelerator Lab, Chicago State Univ., Harper Comm. College, SUNY, and Loyola Univ. Spent 9 weeks in 1979 & 4 weeks in 1981 in Europe studying the History of Chem. (Southern IL. Univ. course). Have been a Dreyfus Master Teacher at Princeton, Sabbatical Northwestern 1998-99, and Univ. of IL-Chicago 1999.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

2002-present           Teaching Chem 101 at the University of IL Chicago and demonstration program.

1974-2002:              Teaching Chem. & AP Chem. at Naperville North H. S. This was a new school when I started teaching here and I developed and set up both Chemistry Programs. I was on sabbatical during the 1998-99 school year.

1999-Present:          Team leader for Flinn Foundation programs, CHEM TEAM 2. I run weeklong workshops at different colleges around the country in the summers.

1997-99:                  Taught a course for chemistry teachers in Sweden.

1997-Present:          Taught and ran two-week trip/courses in Europe for 10 years on the history of science. The graduate program is through Aurora University, Aurora, IL and FermiLab. 

1997-2006:              Developed and taught Chemistry 572, Teaching Methods in Chemistry, with 3 semester-hours of graduate credit in chemistry at U. of IL at Chicago.

1989-98:                  Team leader for Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation programs, CHEM TEAM 8. I ran weeklong workshops at four different colleges around the country in summer.

1983-90:                  Chem. Instructor, FermiLab (NSF) Summer Institute for Science Teachers, Fermi National Accelerator Lab 1986-90:      Director of Chemistry Program, FermiLab (NSF) Summer Institute for Science Teachers, Fermi National Accelerator Lab. 

1986:                       Instructor, "Quest for Excellence In Chemistry Instruction", Aurora Univ., taught weeklong course on electrochemistry.

1985-89:                  Instructor of 12 SERAPHIM interfacing workshops at various locations around the country.

1984-summer:         Did research in fuel oils at BP-AMOCO

1976-82:                  Taught chemistry in the College of DuPage extension program 16 quarters.

1969-74:                  Taught physical science in School District 59

1968-69:                  Research chemical engineer, Catalyst Evaluation Research Group, Universal Oil Products.  Contributed to the design and construction of micropilot units and wrote detailed descriptions of new tests and processes as we developed them.

CONSULTING WORK

·          Consultant/Reviewer American Chemical Society Demonstration Video

·          Consultant for Optical Data's Cosmic Chemistry video discs.

·          Consultant for Education Designs Science Toy kits - designed several kits & advised on others, helped them to start a new line of products.

·          Consultant/reviewer for Heath Chemistry Text

·          Consultant for Lucerne Media line of teaching videos

·          Consultant for Addison Wesley video disc and computer software

·          Consultant for Sommerville House Publishers consultant & author of kids books

·          Consultant for GAMA Gas Appliance Manufactures Assoc.

·          Consultant for National Beef Board wrote labs and did video work for them

·          Consultant for PR agency for soap commercials

·          Consultant for Learning Curve Science Kits

·          Consultant for a number of school districts- worked with their staffs

·          Consultant for FOX TV magic special

·          Consultant for WEBCT for their chemistry site.

·          Consultant for Flinn Scientific for lab materials

·          Consultant for Thomson Learning and ChemCon group

·          Consultant for Dr. Leon Lederman’s ARISE Program

·          Consultant for Adler Planetarium Science program

 

PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS Member of the following organizations and committees:

·         American Chemical Society (ACS) local and national: Involved with the following: Member of History Div.; Member of Ed. Div.; Served on Chicago Ed H. S. Comm. setting up exams, Olympiad, & teachers' conferences for 10 yrs.; ACS SPEAKER TOUR 1999; National H. S. Comm. 1987 & 88; Regional Chem. Day Comm. 89-97; NSTA/ACS Test Writing Comm.; Long Range Planning Comm.- Chicago Section 1988, 89; Project SERAPHIM Workshop Leader; Hosted "Doing Chemistry" workshop for teachers; Div. Chem. Ed. National long-range Planning Comm. 1990; Helped plan and worked/demonstrated at ACS program "Molecules and Society"; "The Chemical Sciences in the Modern World" conference for Div. History of Chemistry; National Planning Committee Meeting for Local Section Activity Development- Belmont Center, MD 91; 1 week Workshop in the History of Chemistry at the Beckman Center Univ. of Penn., Philadelphia 91; National Task Force on High School Curriculum; Presentations/invited speaker at the following meetings: St. Joseph Valley Section Culver, IN 5/89; Regional Winston-Salem N.C., 10/89; Regional in St. Louis, 11/89; Regional Raleigh, NC, 4/91; Regional in Cincinnati, OH 5/92; National San Francisco presentation 4/92; National Denver National, 3/93; ran High school Program for Chicago National Meeting, 8/93; presentation for Allentown, PA section 3/95. I gave presentations at the following Biennial (National) Con. on Chem. Ed.: 9th Biennial Bozeman, Montana 1986; 10th Biennial Purdue 1988 five presentations; 11th Biennial Atlanta, GA at Georgia Tech Univ. 1990 three presentations; 12th Biennial Davis, CA 1992 two presentations; 13th Biennial Bucknell 1994 PA presentation; 14th Biennial Clemson Univ. S.C. 1996 four presentations; 15th Biennial Univ. Waterloo 1998 four presentations, ACS National meeting Boston 9/98 presentation. On Speaker Tour for ACS at 5 sites in 1999, Richmond VA section Christmas Program; 15th Biennial Univ. of MI. two presentations 2000; Written and/or reviewed articles/reviews for J. Chem. Ed., CHEMUNITY, ACS Media; on-line conference "Lecture Demonstrations in Chemistry on the World Wide Web" Spring 2001, Keynote Speaker high school/college  programs Orlando, FL 4/02, New Orleans 3/03, Swarm TX 2004, ACS Speaker Service Lake Erie Circuit 9/02, ran High school Program for Chicago National Meeting, 3/07

·          National Science Teachers Assoc. (NSTA): Involved with the following: International Referral Group 1982/84; Leader, demonstration workshop 1984; Task Force for High School Science 1986/87; Task Force for Computer Networking 1986/87; Association of Presidential Awardees in Science Teaching; NSTA/ACS Test Writing Committee; Have done major presentations at national NSTA meeting most years since 1987. Evening of Chemistry for 2000 people at National meeting 4/02 in Orlando, FL, Keynote Albuquerque Regional 12/03

·         Additional Activities: Illinois Assoc. of Chem. Teachers (IACT) President 1989-90; Illinois Science Teachers Assoc. (ISTA)-- Program Coor. for 1988; convention Illinois Education Association--  Building rep. District 54, Regional Board, District 203; Tau Beta Pi & Phi Lambda Upsilon; Friends of FermiLab on Board of Directors 1990-present;  Illinois Solar Energy Association;  Engineers' Week Program Planning Committee; Exhibits Committee SciTech;  Naperville Area Recycling Center(NARC), was on board of directors & was purchasing agent for 2 years;  Member of REACTIVITY NETWORK; Steering Comm. for the Univ., of Illinois Allerton Workshop for H.S.- College Interfacing 1985; Steering Comm. for Saturday Morning Scholars Program, a lecture series for gifted H.S. students co-sponsored by Illinois Bell and the Corp. Partnership 1986-88, 21st Century Initiative Essential Science Task Force and Education and Outreach Task Force for the Museum of Science and Industry 2003/04

·         Chem West: Co-developed and ran this monthly meeting of chem. teachers for last 14 years [until 2000] in the Chicago area. Wrote a monthly newsletter for 400 chem. teachers in the Chicago area until 2000.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Dreyfus Master Teacher 83, Governors Master Teacher 84, Sigma Xi Outstanding Teacher Award 85, Recognized for outstanding science program by the Chicago Sun Times when Naperville North High School was voted one of the "Ten Best Illinois High Schools" 85, Distinguished Science Educator 86 ISTA, Awarded Citation for Excellence to INTECH (Young Engineers and Scientists Competition) by The Corridor Group, Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching 86, Davison Award for Excellence In Teaching High School Chemistry 87 by Chemical Industries Council, Regional Catalyst Award Midwest--Chem. Manuf. Assoc. 88, ACS Great Lakes Regional Award for High School Chemistry 90, IMPACT Awardee 90, Christa McAuliffe Fellow 92-93, Tandy Technology Scholar Award for Outstanding Teachers 91, Those Who Excel Award of Excellence for Outstanding Contributions To Illinois Education from the State Board of Education, Sigma Xi Special Award from Chicago Section for Contributions to Education in the Chicago Area 92, Voted The Outstanding Teacher of the Year by students and faculty Naperville North High School 92, ASTC [Assoc. of Sci. & Tech. Centers] Honor Roll of Teachers 1992 did demos in Congress in Washington DC, National Catalyst Award for Excellence in Chemistry Teaching from the Chemical Manufactures Association 6/93; National James Bryant Conant Award in High School Chemistry Teaching from the ACS [American Chemical Society] 3/94; ACS Phoenix Award for National Chemistry Week work I had done for last 8 years 8/93, Won Science Photo Contest NSTA made the cover of The Science Teacher 2/94, Golden Apple Award 1998 sabbatical in 98 full tuition to Northwestern, Fulbright to Japan Fall of 99. Honorary Member of South Carolina Chemistry Teachers,  Helen Free Award for Public Outreach ACS 03, Chicago Section ACS Public Affairs Award 07

 In the following publications for teaching/education- Education Week, U. S. A. Today, C & E News, Time, People, Chicago Mag., Today, Illinois Quarterly Mag, The Kansas City Star. Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald and Associated Press. Wrote and appeared in a series of half-hour kids science shows for ABC TV in Chicago.  Finalist for National Emmy Awards for demos done in 1991 on TV. Science book published in 1999 by Penguin Publishing. Helped Bozo show select science demonstrations/demonstrators 1997-00. I was featured:

·          On the "David Letterman Show" 30 times 90-07

·          On the CBS News Special "Education Our Nation's Toughest Assignment"

·          On two segments on CBS "Schools In"

·          On the Houston ABC News, ABC TV in Buffalo NY, Kalamazoo MI NBC News, CBS News Richmond VA, Nashville, TN.

·          On FOX, CBS, NBC, WGN, ABC, WTTW here in Chicago numerous times

·          Appeared on National TV show INSIDE EDITION for examples of better ways of teaching

                With Students

1.             The various industries in the DuPage County area have sponsored the "INTECH" science fair for students in the area.  I helped the student who won the engineering design competition.  I had a number of students who were Semifinalist.

2.             JETS (Junior Engineering & Technological Society), first or second in the state in chemistry numerous times

3.             Illinois Benedictine College Chemistry Exam, my students achieved first or second place on the exam a number of times.

4.             Had students work on summer projects at Argonne, FermiLab, University of Illinois, and other colleges around the country.

5.             Honorable mentions on ACS exams, 2nd place several times & have had students finish in the top 5 on numerous occasions.

6.             National Science Exam - Chem., I had a student place 2nd in 1986 and our school was 12th overall in chemistry out of 158 schools.

7.             Many of my students have attended Saturday Morning Physics and joined Explorer Clubs.  The industry participants in this program meet with students once a month in the evening to enable the students to learn more about what one does in industry.

8.             Several of my students were finalists in the Museum of Science and Industry's Outstanding Young Scientist Award.

9.             I have judged a number of science fairs and have organized several science fairs.

10.           I helped to set up the lab assistant program at North High whereby students get credit for helping make solutions, setting up labs, trying out labs, etc.

11.           I was one of the originators of the independent study program at North High - a program that enables students to work on their own projects.

12.           I have former students now in college and the work world return to give presentations on careers in chemistry and engineering.

13.           Over two dozen of my students have worked in co-op programs at BP Amoco, Nalco, AT&T, Argonne, FermiLab, and Bell Labs.  This is one of the best work related experiences the student can have.  He or she attends school in the morning but leaves at 1:00 P.M. to work until about 4:30 in a laboratory or industrial settings. 

14.           One of my students won the National Finalist Westinghouse Science Talent Search

15.           Helped to introduce legislation to free up kids from taking mandated courses.  Also worked with State Legislator Mary Lou Cowlishaw on passage of the new law allowing consumer education to be passed by a proficiency exam.

16.           Students were selected for International Chemistry Olympiad Camp in CO and another as an alternate 1993.

17.           Student work published in 25th Anniversary Issue of CHEM 13 NEWS.

18.           Student work published in Mole Day Magazine.

19.           Students were selected for International Chemistry Olympiad Camp in CO and another as an alternate 1994

20.           Two state first place winners in JETS in chemistry 1994

21.           Student/teacher photo contest national winner NSTA cover of The Science Teacher.

22.           Students National finalist for Toshiba ExploraVision Award 1995

23.                 1996 students took 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, & 6th in state in JETS chemistry.

24.           Jets team 3rd in nation 1996

25.           Took first, second, fourth, in state in JETS in chemistry 1997

26.           Students were selected for International Chemistry Olympiad Camp in CO 1997

27.           Highest placing Female Chemistry Student Award on Chicago Area ACS Exam 1997

28.           Third time a student selected for MIT full paid summer honors program 1997

29.           Kids did Science demos on David Letterman show 1997 & 1998

30.           J.V.  JETS Team 2nd in the nation 1998, helped with chemistry section

31.           Student was selected for International Chemistry Olympiad Camp in CO 1998

32.           Student selected by USA Today as one of top 20 in country 1998

33.           Student was selected for International Chemistry Olympiad Camp in CO 1999

34.           Winning student team of the 2000-2001 Internet Science and Technology Fair (ISTF)

35.           Nominated [by students] one of the Outstanding Educators School dist 203 for 15th year in a row.

 

ORIGINAL PUBLICATIONS, COMPUTER WORK & VIDEO WORK:               

1998-07   "Exocharmic Chemistry" for Flinn Scientific CHEM TEAM  book of 275 pages of teachers materials.

2007        30th time on David Letterman Show Science Demonstrations 12/07

2007        29th time on David Letterman Show Science Demonstrations 5/07

1995-06 Book of demos and labs for UIC Summer Teachers Methods Course- we do a new book each year

2006        28th time on David Letterman Show Science Demonstrations 11/06

2006        Chicago Tribune Science review of Moto 10/06

2006        27th time on David Letterman Show Science Demonstrations 5/06

2005        Video demos at Adler Planetarium used as "commercials" in an hour-long web cast to celebrate "Einstein's Year" that Leon Lederman, Nobel Laureate, broadcast on 12/1/05 a webcast with Fermilab and CERN

2005        Flinn ChemTopic Lab and Demo manuals 23 volumes 05

2005        26th time on David Letterman Show Science Demonstrations 11/05

2005        25th time on David Letterman Show Science Demonstrations 5/05

2004        24th time on David Letterman Show Science Demonstrations 3/04

2003        Univ. of WI Christmas Demonstrations with Bassam Shakhashiri for PBS telecasts 12/03

2003        ARISE Program writing connections between chemistry physics and biology for Leon Lederman.

2003        ACS News TV show Nashville did Science Demos 11/03

2003        23th time on David Letterman Show Science Demonstrations 3/03

2002        22nd time on David Letterman Show Science Demonstrations 5/02

2002        Hour cable-access series from Skokie called "Pushing the Envelope" on education.

2002        Book on science demos for general public for Somerville Press/Scholastic Publishers

2001        21st time on David Letterman Show Science Demonstrations 12/01

2001        Fox Sports Science Demos 5/01

2001        20th time on David Letterman Show Science Demonstrations 5/01

2001        Demonstrations for WTTW Public TV on their “Chicago Tomorrow” science shows three times 3/01

2001            WGN TV News did demonstrations with my students 2/01

2001        On-line conference "Lecture Demonstrations in Chemistry on the World Wide Web" Spring 2001

2000        Chemical Heritage Newsmagazine of the Chemical Heritage Foundation article on Gun Cotton 9/00

2000        Kids Stuff Magazine 9/00

2000        19th time on David Letterman Show Science Demonstrations 11/00

2000        WGN Radio Science Fair on the radio! 10/00

2000        Bozo Show WGN 9/00

2000        CLTV show on Mercury spills 9 /00

2000        Fox Sports Science Demonstrations 5/00

2000        Demos for WEBCT streaming video of chemistry demos done with Univ. of GA for WEBCT, can be seen http://www.webct.com/chemistry/ 

2000        18th time on David Letterman Show Science Demonstrations 3/00

2000        "Exocharmic Chemistry" for Flinn Scientific CHEM TEAM 2 a book of 275 pages of teachers materials.

2000        WGN TV News did demonstrations with my students 1/00

1999        Half a dozen radio interviews for the book published 2/99

1999        Bozo Show WGN October 3, 1999

1999        17th time on David Letterman Show Science Demonstrations 9/99

1999        The Great Sodium Disaster Video" working with Cliff Schrader on production 8/99

1999        16th time on David Letterman Show Science Demonstrations 5/99

1999        Book on science demos for general public for SOMERVILLE PRESS/Penguin Publishers.

1999        15th time on David Letterman Show Science Demonstrations 2/99

1999        "Exocharmic Chemistry" for Flinn Scientific CHEM TEAM 2 a book of 275 pages of teachers materials.

1999        "THE PERIODIC CABLE", a monthly newsletter distributed to 400+ chemistry              teachers and chemist in the Chicago area.  Have written, edited and published the newsletter and has published this for the past 14 years.

1998        Univ. of WI Christmas Demonstrations with Bassam Shakhashiri for PBS telecasts 12/98

1998        WBIG radio hour talk show and demos 12/98

1998        15th time on David Letterman Show CBS November 16, 1998

1998        Bozo Show WGN October 5, 1998

1998        WGN TV News did demonstrations and interviewed. 10/25/98

1998        Golden Apple Awards Show May WTTW Chicago May 8.1998

1998        14th time on David Letterman Show CBS March 3, 1998

1998        Beef Board Video "Fueled for Flight" wrote and acted in video for junior high classes on energy and food.

1998        WGN TV News as Scientist for Science week did demonstrations and was interviewed. 2/16/98

1998        Spotlighted in a video focusing on teachers who are innovators in Illinois for IEA 1998.

1997        KARE- TV, Garnnett TV, Minneapolis, MN Saturday Science Chemistry Day 11/4/97

1997        Articles in The Chicago Tribune and Daily Herald 10/30/97

1997        Kids and science demos CBS News October 29, 1997

1997        Bozo Show WGN October 26, 1997

1997        12th time on David Letterman Show Doing Science Demonstrations 10/30/97

1997        Fox Thing in the Morning FOX TV Chicago Sept. 26. 1997

1997        Web page set up by Tribune at http://chicago.digitalcity.com/naperville/profile/neighbor/neighbor.htm

1997        Feature article in The Chicago Tribune 8/8/97

1997        11th time on David Letterman Show Doing Science Demonstrations 7/ 3/97

1997        Science Demonstrations for FOX TV in Chicago 5/7/97

1997        Tenth time on David Letterman Show Doing Science Demonstrations 1/ 3/97

1997        "Teaching Chemistry Exocharmically" for Woodrow Wilson CHEM TEAM 8 a book of 250 pages of teachers materials. 1989-97

1997        "WEIRD SCIENCE" and "SON OF WEIRD SCIENCE" demonstration manuals developed in conjunction with three other high school teachers for a chemical demonstration show which has been given out and presented over 300 times from coast to coast for the last 10 years. WEIRD SCIENCE is listed in CMA "Education Resource Guide" as an Endorsed Program.

1996        Feature article in The Kansas City Star 10/18/96

1996        ABC TV in Buffalo, NY AM Buffalo did science demos for them live, June 27, 1996

1996        ABC TV Peoria, IL News Interview Heart of Illinois Fair on Science Show, July 1996

1996        Feature article in Today [Du Page Newspaper]

1996        Feature article in Illinois Quarterly Magazine.

1996        Working with GAMA [Gas Appliance Manufactures Association] on High School Education Program and video

1996        Addison Wesley Chemistry Video Discs

1996        Kids show did science experiments on the radio for WGN 4/6/96

1996        Student won awards from Yahoo & The Exploratorium for interactive home page on the World Wide Web

1995        Education Designs Science Toy kits.  Designed several kits and advised on others.  Helped them to start a new line of products.

1995        Editorial [requested by editor] in Chemunity News the ACS publication for the Education Division 1995

1995        Sommerville House Publishers author for a line of science books

1995        Ninth time on David Letterman Show Doing Science Demonstrations 11/22/95

1995        Helped to create Addison Wesley Laser disk for high school chemistry.  Also did demo on the disc.

1995        FOX thing in the Morning TV program, did science demonstrations on FOX TV 8/95

1995        Letterman New Show @ CBS show 3/95

1995        People Magazine article

1995        Science Demonstrations for FOX TV in Chicago 3/21/95

1995        Letterman New show 3/10/94

1994        Written up in Chicago Magazine

1994        C & E News several times

1994        Korean Chemical Journal of Education

1994        Published experiments in CHEM 13 NEWS

1994        Photo work selected for the cover of the Science Teacher Magazine, won national photo contest 2/94.

1994        Letterman New show on CBS 9/2/94

1994        Co-host NCTV cable Naperville hour science show; done with Bill West May 1994

1994        CLTV in Chicago, science demos September 1994

1994        WGN Radio did a half-hour kids show at Taste of Chicago 7/94

1994        WBEZ- National Public Radio- did a half hour radio show on science education 5/94

1994        "Encyclopedia of Chemistry", wrote material for now encyclopedia coming out in 1995 from Macmillan.

1994        Hour radio show for WBIG on science education 4/23/94

1994        Science Demonstrations for FOX TV in Chicago 2/22/94

1994        Science demos on the radio for WLUP the Johnan Brandmeyer Show. 2/94

1993        Students work published in CHEM 13 NEWS in their 25th anniversary issue 8/93

1993        Feature story on Inside Edition TV show for classroom teaching 7/93.

1993        Co-hosted on ABC {Chicago} TV two more 1/2-hour kids’ science shows.

1993        "DEMOS I DO", A 120 page demonstration packet distributed to chemistry teachers at chemistry conferences, workshops and used at the Summer Institute for Chemistry Teachers (FermiLab). 1982-1993

1993        TV show with science demos Clive Anderson Talks Back in England 6/93

1993        TV appearances on "Late Night With David Letterman" show 6 times [1990-95] doing science demonstrations. Appeared on TV Emmy Awards Program 8/25/91 as one of "best of..." category for this.

1992        ABC {Chicago} TV two 1/2-hour kids science shows.

1992        Co-hosted 1 hour NCTV [cable TV] science program for parents and kids in school district 203.

1992        Chemistry Day work made cover of C & E News and inside story.

1992        Written up in Education Resource Guide from CMA as a Recommended Model Program 6/92

1992        Article written up by Associated Press distributed around the country.

1992        Feature story on Inside Edition TV show about classroom teaching 12/92.

1992        Feature article in USA Today on teaching.

1992        Feature article in Education Week on motivating students and teaching.

1992        Feature story written on teaching approach in "The Insider Line" the electronic Manufactures Newspaper

1992        "LIQUID N2: PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS AT LOW TEMPERATURES", a write-up on a one hour presentation including demonstrations on the properties of materials at low temperatures published by Flinn Scientific.

1992        Reviewed CD-ROM disk for Dr. David Brooks for ChemSource.  Some of my labs and material are included on the disk.

1992        Appeared on National Public Radio [WBEZ] for their New Years program 1/1/92 doing 1/2 hour worth of demonstrations.

1992        Appeared in Lab Safety Supply catalog in full page spread on safety.

1991        Appeared/Interviewed on CBS News TV in Chicago for teaching demonstrations.  Interviewed and filed in classroom during class.

1991        NBC TV Chicago, The Bob Sirrot Show, did set of demonstrations & interview over a 45-minute period for morning news show.

1991        Two Texas [Houston] stations on nightly news on education 1991 for interview and demonstrations to motivate kids and teachers.

1991        Chicago TV News for student science projects and how to get them involved

1991        A lab book from the Berkeley Hall of Science "Laboratory Assessment Builds Success", Univ. of Cal. Berkeley contains some of my lab materials.  I worked on this book for two summers at Berkeley.

1991        "AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME", a position paper and rationale supporting the idea of four classes and laboratory technician help for science teachers; includes statistics from 60+ high schools; published in Educational Possibilities.

1991        Science Demonstrations on WGN Radio for Taste of Chicago 4th of July.

1990        Video work in NJ, demonstrations for Optical Data Corp.'s Laserdisc on chemistry.  It is a 6 sided set of discs.  Also edited materials for them.

1990        Lab selected for the Impact II: Teacher-To-Teacher Network to Enhance Math and Science Education in Illinois.  The materials published and distributed to school districts throughout the state.

1990        "FACTS ON FILE", has published two labs in their "Experiments, Demonstrations, and Projects for School and Home" in 90.

1990        Science demonstration tape for North Shore cable TV station

1990        News Special "Education Our Nation's Toughest Assignment" September 6, 1990, two segments on CBS education special "Schools In" November and December 1990

1989        Video program on polymers for local cable TV station, it was played once a week for six months.  Voted one of the highlights of the year

1988        Kalamazoo NBC News

1988        Chemistry Day work made cover of C & E News and inside story.

1987        NSTA/ACS Test Writing Committee 1987-88, helped to write the ACS/NSTA High School Exam

1987        "A USER'S VIEW ON COMPUTERS", ISTA SPECTRUM, SPRING

1987        "KEEPING ON TRACK WITH COMPUTERS", an article written for CHEMUNITY, Vol. 8, No.1, 1987.  (An ACS publication for teachers).

1986        Edited laser videodisk material for the American Chemical Society ("Doing Chemistry") and National Educational Video, 1986-87.

1986        "WORKING CONDITIONS FOR SECONDARY SCIENCE TEACHERS", a position statement   on the working conditions of high school chemistry teachers by a NSTA Task     Force which I helped write.

1986        "The Presidential Award for Excellence in Science & Math ", published ISTA SPECTRUM.

1985        "A PROPOSITION FOR A RESOLUTION FOR IMPROVEMENT IN SCIENCE EDUCATION", submitted to the Illinois Association of Chemistry Teachers (IACT) at its 1985 Spring Conference, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL.

1985        "A TIME TO THINK -- A TIME TO DO", a proposition for a resolution for improvement in science education presented to the membership of the Illinois Science Teachers Association State Convention, Illinois State Univ., Normal, IL.

1985        "BUILDING ADAPTER BOXES AND INTERFACING MATERIALS", a set of materials developed for SERAPHIM workshop participants.

1985        "MOLE DEMO: PART I & II", teacher - student generated computer software programs developed for the Dreyfus Master Teacher Program and SERAPHIM and distributed to over 2000 high school chemistry teachers nationwide. 

1985        Obtained one half of a fusion reactor from Argonne for permanent display in the North High School lower resource center, the other half of the reactor is at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

1985        "SUPERMOLE SHUFFLE", ISTA song published in SPECTRUM, Fall 1985, later made into a video.

1985        "BOLTZMANN DISTRIBUTION", ISTA lab published in SPECTRUM

1985        Edited science textbooks for Scott Foresman, 1985-87.

1984        Worked as a research chemist at Amoco studying polymers to reduce friction in pipeline flow.  Developed guide lines for the test. 10 weeks summer 1984.

1982        "ISOMERS OF CARBON COMPOUNDS", published in Chem. 13 News.

1981        Edited articles Journal of Chemical Education, 1981-1983.

 

Before I list part of the over 500 workshops and presentations I have done I would like to mention two things that stand out in the way of professional participation:

              1.  For 14 years I ran CHEM WEST, a teachers alliance group in the Chicago area.  We have monthly meetings open to teachers and chemists of all educational levels. The meetings provide a forum for the dissemination of chemistry information, ideas, materials, methodologies, and safety regulations.  We are committed to "teachers sharing with teachers."  This is not a trickle down theory but a "trickle up," which was a paradigm shift in thinking for teacher training at the time the group was initiated.  I published [in 2000 others took over the newsletter] “Periodic Cable”, the monthly newsletter of CHEM WEST, which keeps members informed of area and national meetings, new ideas, and materials developed and presented by CHEM WEST participants, etc.  The mailing list includes over 500 pre-college and college chemistry teachers, and others interested in chemical education.  Attendance at the monthly meetings is between 30-200 teachers. There are no dues. CHEM WEST is a tax-exempt organization that is able, because of funding I helped obtain, to offer mini-grants to science teachers for development of curriculum and demonstration materials, computer software and interfacing devices. CHEM WEST has awarded $7500 in mini-grants over the years to teachers of all levels. In addition to the monthly meetings there have been free workshops for teachers and CHEM WEST has worked with other groups and with industry for teacher updating.  CHEM WEST has worked with Chemical Industries Council of Illinois [CICI] in establishing their first "Classroom Catalysis" program and with American Chemical Society Chemistry Day program for the last 10 years where 12 to 18 teachers from our group did all day presentations at local museums. CHEM WEST together with a downstate alliance group is put together a demonstration book with Dr. Otis Rothenberger from Illinois State University.  CHEM WEST has also participated in the Midwest Regional Conference on Local Alliance Building for Science and Technology Education several years ago; helped with start-up of the Engineers' Week Program; and held meetings with BPAmoco Oil, Nalco Chemical Company, Argonne National Lab, Fermi National Lab, and Chicago Drug and Chemical.

 

CHEM WEST has received support and assistance from the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation for Academic Alliances in Chemistry [Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation] to improve the teaching of chemistry and from the Chicago Drug and Chemical Association.  CHEM WEST has also received encouragement and assistance from the Friends of FermiLab Association, a not-for profit organization associated with Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, which sponsors many programs for the enhancement of science education.

 

                2. I am part of a demonstration team-- WEIRD SCIENCE- which has done over 500 presentations for more than 300,000 students, teachers, and the general public. WEIRD SCIENCE is a stage show that presents a series of demonstrations and teaching tips that will turn on even the most comatose students and motivate teachers of all levels. Students learn best when they want to learn. It is our job as teachers to awaken a student's desire to learn--to keep them mentally coming back. The teacher is the catalyst in the classroom. If that catalyst is inert not much happens. WEIRD SCIENCE has found that we are able to motivate that teacher to change-- to supply the activation energy or a new mechanism to initiate the move to a new style of teaching.

 

In a recent survey published in School Science and Mathematics on "Secondary Science Teacher's Needs," teachers ranked methods to motivate students as their number one concern and identification of sources of peer tested instructional materials as a high priority. CHEM WEST and WEIRD SCIENCE presentations provide both. Lesley Stahl of CBS News said of a "WEIRD SCIENCE" presentation at SUNY Purchase [NY], "Teachers are hungry for this type of sharing."  "WEIRD SCIENCE is a four-teacher road show that exposes youngsters to seemingly magical wonders more intriguing than video games." ---- Newsweek: April 9, 1990

 

Workshops I have run or helped to run in the last 10 years (I have done well over 500):          

2008        Science demo program on money for the Oxford Bank Naperville 9/08

2008        Set up/taught a two-week course called  "History of Science in France" in Europe 7/08

2008        Science demo program on money for the Oxford Bank Westmont 5/08

2008        Chemical Industry Council of Illinois CAREER CONFERENCE did demo programs for 2 days at Museum of Science and Industry 2500 kids 4/08

2008        Science demonstration program at Fermilab for over 800 kids and parents expected for Excellence in Science, Technology, and Math Education Week 4/08

2008        Science demonstration program for Plainfield School 400 kids 3/08

2008        Saturday demonstration program for School District 204 Science Fair: WEIRD SCIENCE 1/08

2008        Science demonstration program for Kaneland School District 400 kids1/08

2007        David Letterman Show Science Demonstrations NY 12/07

2007        Science demo program on money for the Oxford Bank Naperville 9/07

2007        Helped to run full day Inquiry Chemistry Program at UIC for CPS teachers. 9/07

2007        Taught 2 week-long workshops for Flinn Scientific Summer of 07 U of Cal., Merced & U of Texas, El Paso, 8/07

2007        Set up/taught a two-week course called  "History of Science in Scandinavia" in Europe 7/07

2007        Helped to run full day Inquiry Chemistry Program at UIC for CPS teachers. 6/07

2007        David Letterman Show Science Demonstrations NY 5/07

2007        Science demos for District 203 Ed. Foundation raised $2000 5/07

2007        Science demonstration program for national Geographic’s kids and parents 5/07

2007        Helped to run full day Inquiry Chemistry Program at UIC for CPS teachers. 4/07

2007        Chemical Industry Council of Illinois CAREER CONFERENCE did demo programs for 2 days at Museum of Science and Industry 2500 kids 4/07

2007        Chair of High School Program for the National ACS meeting Chicago 3/07

2007        Science demonstration program for Orenic School Plainfield 800 kids & parents 2/07

2007        Science demonstration program for Longwood School Aurora 300 kids 2/07

2007        Helped to run full day Inquiry Chemistry Program at UIC for CPS teachers. 2/07

2007        Science demonstration program for Battle Creek, Michigan 300 kids 2/07

2007        Two Saturday demonstration programs for School District 204 Science Fair: WEIRD SCIENCE 1/07

2007        Helped to run full day Inquiry Chemistry Program at UIC for CPS teachers. 1/07

2007        Science demonstration program for Kaneland School District 400 kids1/07

2006        Science demos with kids on WGN and CBS local stations 12/06

2006        David Letterman Show Science Demonstrations NY 12/06

2006        Advanced gastronomy article in Chicago Tribune explaining high-tech restaurants in Chicago

2006        Hallowed Halls Halloween program for the Chicago Cultural Center 10/06

2006        Boy Scout science program North Barrington 10/06</