WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Efforts to bring a more creative and interesting approach to chemistry experiments at Missouri State University-West Plains is keeping students on the cutting edge of research into potential new drugs.
Since the spring of 2012, students enrolled in Dr. Joseph Rugutt’s chemistry classes have had the opportunity to participate in new research-based guided-inquiry experiments on chalcones. Chalcones, he said, are an important class of naturally occurring chemical compounds that are of interest to the pharmaceutical industry because of their potential antitumor, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory activity.
“Our students are interested in experiments ranked ‘high priority’ by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Moreover, students might know of a friend or a family member who has or has had cancer, which brings a personal connection to their work,” he explained.
The new guided-inquiry experimental format also gives students the opportunity to take a more creative approach to traditional chemistry experiments, said Rugutt, associate professor of chemistry.
“Guided-inquiry laboratory experiments offer excellent opportunities to actively engage students in the process of science. Specifically, guided-inquiry teaching requires students to be proactive in evaluating their experimental data to answer a question posed by the experiment. In the process, students not only enjoy doing the experiments, but also develop critical thinking skills as they learn the art of data interpretation,” he explained.
As is the case with other guided-inquiry experiments, Rugutt expects the chalcone-based research will serve as a springboard for undergraduate researchers enrolled in the university’s William and Virginia Darr Honors Program or directed study courses.
As part of seeking new and potentially transformative knowledge on research-based experiments, Rugutt has been participating in the NSF’s proposal review sessions. In April and May, he joined other competitively selected scientists from around the country to serve as panelists at the NSF headquarters in Arlington, Va.
For more information about Rugutt’s work with the students, contact him at 417-255-7982 or at JRugutt@MissouriState.edu.