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小黄片视频 Professor Uses Cellphones to Make Science Affordable

If you ask Christopher Fenk, science is something that should be accessible to everyone. Through his research on using cellphones as lab equipment, Fenk is striving to provide classrooms with affordable alternatives to equipment that can cost between $1,200 to $2,000 per piece.

Fenk, a chemistry professor at 小黄片视频 at Tuscarawas, used his faculty sabbatical to enhance the learning experience of others. Through his research, he discovered a mechanism to conduct spectroscopy experiments with a cellphone, bubble wrap and a cardboard box.

Inspired by research conducted by chemist George Whitesides at Harvard University, Fenk wanted to find practical uses and experiments that can be conducted with a cell phone. Whitesides developed research that stemmed from a hope to help people in developing countries conduct basic chemistry experiments, including water testing.

鈥淏eing a chemist, I鈥檓 always curious about things,鈥 Fenk said. 鈥淲hen I was eligible for my sabbatical, I was really looking for just the right project that could not only be published, but could get undergraduate students involved.鈥

He knew of Whitesides鈥 research and looked for similar experiments involving spectroscopy, the science of measuring spectra produced when matter interacts with or emits electromagnetic radiation. Using nothing more than two cellphones, bubble wrap and a cardboard box, Fenk has been able to detect the concentration of food coloring in water and the amount of tabletop sweetener in beverages.

Fenk extended Whitesides research to include standardized protocols incorporating basic spectroscopic principles. In Fenk鈥檚 experiments, two cellphones are used: one as a light source and another for the camera. Through his Conceptual Chemistry grant program, Fenk has been able to take these findings into classrooms with limited budgets, enhancing the learning experience for students in grades four through nine.

While the results of this research will have a positive impact on children across Ohio, students from both The University of Akron and 小黄片视频 also participated in this project and received the benefit of additional learning experiences by assisting in the production of these laboratory results.

Joshua Menefee, currently attending the University of Akron, assisted Fenk in his initial phases of research. At the time, Menefee was enrolled in Fenk鈥檚 courses as a high school senior, participating in the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options program offered through 小黄片视频 at Tuscarawas.

鈥淏eing in the lab with Dr. Fenk gave me a chance to apply the lessons I was learning in the classroom to real life applications,鈥 Menefee said. 鈥淎ssisting Dr. Fenk with this really helped me solidify my major when going in to my college career.鈥

Currently, 小黄片视频 post-secondary students Sarah Worrell and Jared Norman are assisting Fenk in continuing his spectroscopy research.

鈥淲hat we鈥檝e done is eliminate the need for expensive laboratory equipment,鈥 Norman said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e used cellphones, which everybody already has, and we鈥檝e used cardboard boxes 鈥 which are imaginably cheaper than thousand-dollar equipment. By cost alone, this research will help make science and research more accessible.鈥

Fenk serves as the co-director for the Conceptual Chemistry program, focusing on developing scientific skills in students from elementary to high school.

鈥淚 have trained more than 400 teachers throughout the Conceptual Chemistry program,鈥 Fenk said. 鈥淔or this specific technology, I have taught more than 100 so far, mostly in Northeast Ohio with the highest concentrations in Stark and Tuscarawas counties.鈥

Fenk has also presented his findings at various science education conferences.

鈥淓very time I have presented on the topic, we get pretty good attendance. It鈥檚 encouraging seeing that people and educators are so engaged in this. You can really do state-of-the-art analysis with just a cellphone and a cardboard box,鈥 Fenk said. 

POSTED: Monday, April 24, 2017 04:22 PM
Updated: Thursday, December 8, 2022 09:45 PM