Students in Professor James McCargar’s upper level physical chemistry class work on “real world” problems in conjunction with Sherwin-Williams’ chemists. "Not only do the students polish their research skills but they also learn about planning, leadership, teamwork and communication skills," McCargar said.
If you should look in on McCargar’s upper level physical chemistry laboratory class, you might see students conducting experiments, or involved in a discussion. What you won’t see is students working on experiments from a lab manual or textbook.
The work they are doing is “real-world” chemistry; solving problems conceived by McCargar and chemists at Sherwin-Williams. A campus visit by a Sherwin-Williams’ scientist in the fall of 2004 got McCargar thinking of ways that students might work on a project with people outside the College, but do the work inside the College.
“I thought it made good sense to reach out and help students get a better idea of what it’s like to be a professional chemist in a large company.” The College already had a cordial relationship with Sherwin-Williams, McCargar pointed out. A number of students have had summer internships with the company and several have been hired to full-time positions after graduation.
McCargar also had a notion that the professional chemists at Sherwin-Williams would be interested in the teaching aspects of such a project. “I asked them what kinds of problems they would pursue if time allowed,” he recalled. He and Kent Young of Sherwin-Williams came up with two projects and the pilot class began in the spring of 2005. Currently, the Sherwin-Williams major contact is Morgan Sibbald, the group leader in the Novel Technology group with the company.
“These are actual problems that we work on,” McCargar said. “Morgan comes in the first week of classes and presents the problems. They have a real-world application and are ones that a professional scientist might investigate. Applied research problems have links to fundamental skills and knowledge that students learn in the classroom.”
Students follow a procedure similar to one they could expect to find working in a large company. The problem statement is translated into a project plan with a timetable, goals and leadership. After the initial meeting with Sibbald, the students have face-to-face meetings to update their progress twice during the semester. They first present their project at the B-W Science Poster Session in the spring and (new this semester) will present their research findings to scientists at Sherwin-Williams Breen Technology Center.. Throughout the semester, the students keep in touch with the Sherwin-Williams’ professionals through e-mail and phone conversations.
“But it doesn’t end there,” McCargar said. “I require each student to write a journal article using the American Chemical Society format. I take a sampling of these to pass on to the people at Sherwin-Williams. “
During the research period, the project plan may be revised, an opportunity that McCargar and Sibbald use to teach that the plan is a living document. In fact, McCargar points out that the course itself is a work in process. He consults the Sherwin-Williams’ professionals at the end of each semester, about ways to create the best experience for students.
What does Sherwin-Williams gain from their involvement? Possibly, some future employees who can hit the ground running. McCargar also sees the experience as a great resumé builder.
“The collaboration with Sherwin-Williams immediately becomes the focal point of an interview for a job or perhaps grad school,” he said. Sherwin-Williams is looking for talented scientists with the leadership and team skills the students have developed. He added that, in a way, through the class students are auditioning for the company.
McCargar also finds the class a challenge and motivational. “The success of students at B-W matters to me...the relationship with Sherwin-Williams is important to me. I feel that I’m a stakeholder in this process.”
The chemistry laboratory class is just one instance of the numerous ways that B-W provides real-world experience for undergraduate students.
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