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News

From the College of Natural Sciences

Don't Let Up

CNS Newsletter       Dear Students, This is not only the last week before Spring Break, this week also generally coincides with mid-term exams or the second exam in many classes.  There is a tendency for students to “check out” after this exam and start their break a bit early.  I would encourage you to avoid this h...

Recognition of Excellence II

CNS Newsletter Dear Students, Last week I wrote about nominating faculty, staff, and TAs for awards. This week I’m writing about nominating yourself!  The 2015-2016 College of Natural Sciences Common Scholarship Application is now available.  The common application is used to award college-level scholarships as well as the Health P...

Recognition of Excellence

CNS Newsletter Dear Students, It’s always nice to know when your work is making a difference.   It is especially gratifying when that recognition comes directly from the people you’re working for.  For faculty and staff in the College of Natural Sciences, that group is you.   Helping students learn and grow is the reason ...

Info Face to Face‏

CNS Newsletter   Dear Students, The internet is remarkable.  Unlike most of you, I remember when it didn’t exist (this week I get a chance to wear my Old Man Hat).  Before the age of the internet, searching for information was often a challenge.  When I tried to learn about potential graduate schools, it wasn’t easy.  A ...

Beyond the Classroom

Dear Students,    We spend a lot of time talking about academic success.  This isn’t a bad idea, since we are in fact all here to learn.  However, it’s important to also spend time thinking about personal growth.  Here at the start of the spring semester, it’s worth taking a little time to think about things ...

Science Communication

Dear Students,  Many students don’t realize the importance of communication skills in science.  Great results in the lab have little impact if they are not communicated to anyone outside of the lab.  Scientists work hard to disseminate their results to the world through papers, posters, talks, and other presentations.  Moreover ...

New Semester

Dear Students,     I hope that everyone has had a great start to the new semester!  It has only been a week, but we are back and going strong.  Some of you are getting into the groove of your second semester at UT; while for some of you, this is your last semester at UT!   Whether this is your first spring, your last...

Finals Week

Dear Students, I have only two quick items to pass on for finals week. 1.  Today was Fall Commencement! (“Graduation” for those not familiar with academic lingo.)  What a great day of celebration.  Congratulations to our all of our CNS graduates.  You should be proud of all you have accomplished at UT and on the successful com...

Last Week‏

Dear Students, I hope that everyone was revitalized by a few days off for Thanksgiving.  Judging by the dwindling numbers of people on campus Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday last week, I suspect some of you took more than a couple days off.  I hope that you used the time to enjoy friends and family, to rest and relax, and to ease some of ...

Thanksgiving Week

Dear Students, Many of us will leave campus this week to visit with family or friends for the Thanksgiving holiday.  After a long semester with few (if any breaks) it will be a welcome respite.  It comes unfortunately very near the end of the semester.  It is easy to let up on studying right when your learning should be hitting its ...

Press On

Dear Students, It has gotten to be that time of year.  The true grind of the semester is upon us.  Work is piling up.  The weather has become darker, wetter, and colder.  And sometimes it seems appealing to huddle in bed rather than tackling the challenge of the rest of the term.  That is why I was pleased to be reminded ...

What is in a degree?

Dear Students, There was a time when a large fraction of all of the chemistry research in the world took place in Germany or Russia.  As a consequence, when I earned my B.S. in Chemistry, the degree required I take a year of either German or Russian.  This was considered essential, as chemists needed to be able to read the chemistry lite...

Teach and Learn

Dear Students, I remember the first time I had to teach Physical Chemistry I (CH353).  I was worried.  It had been more than a few years since I had taken this course as an undergraduate.  Despite the fact that in this course I received the highest final grade of any class during my four years in college, I didn’t really r...

Thank Someone

Top of the email invitation  NSC Town Hall on Career Services (and the Health Professions Office) Monday 10/27 5pm-6pm WCH 1.120    Dear Students, This past weekend was Family Weekend, and it had me reflecting on the people who have helped me over the years:  from high school teachers who put in extra time and effort to bette...

Come Prepared

Dear Students, I remember one of the first times I went to meet with a faculty member as an undergraduate. I had some questions that I needed answered, and “office hours” were the time set aside that I had access to the professor.  So I went, with some trepidation, to see Dr. Pellem Wilder to ask a question about organic chemistry.  I do...