Goucher College will buy an atomic absorption spectrometer (AA). The AA will be used in a variety of upper level chemistry and biology courses, and it will also be the major piece of equipment used in six week intensive projects, where chemistry and biology students join forces to investigate the uptake of heavy metals in aquatic organisms. This project will simulate the interaction of biologists and chemists typical of research or industrial settings and will require both independence and communications skills. This project may serve as a model for cooperative teaching between disciplines where shared expertise is focused on different aspects of the same question. After receiving background in toxicology and instrumental analysis respectively, the biology and chemistry students will join forces. Biology students will formulate the basic questions about metal uptake and toxicity and then consult their chemist peers to develop the experimental design and analytical protocol for metal analysis in tissues using the AA. The biology and chemistry students will then analyze the samples and interpret the data together. This is an excellent place for students to experience the benefits of modern computer interfaced instrumentation, for it will greatly affect their ability to answer scientific questions. The sensitivity of the AA will permit detection of trace levels of metals in the environment or in tissues. Sample automation will allow enough samples for thorough data analysis, which will in turn be greatly facilitated by the onboard graphics and data management software of the AA.
