Free Webinars for Educators

Imagining how kinetics applies to your everyday life seems like a monumental task. The reality is that the kinetics of chemical reactions is connected to everything in your everyday life, so it’s tough to narrow it down – but we can try! Have you ever noticed how different medications have different dose timings? Some are taken every 8 hours, some taken every 12 hours, and some medications can even be given all in one dose. The rate law, and specifically the half life of that medication, determines how often it is administered because it determines how long the medication stays in your body. This is also true for chemicals like caffeine and ethanol, where the effect of the rate law can sometimes have a dangerous outcome.

Creating lifelong learners is one way to equip students for success in school and beyond. Built on research, the practices in this session provide teachers with practical ways to engage students and build habits of lifelong learners. Attendees will receive materials and instruction that they can use in their classrooms immediately.

If we only consider the volume of the electrons, protons, and neutrons in your body, then your entire mass would be about the size of a small sugar cube. Your body is mostly empty space. However, everything about you seems pretty solid. When you lean against a wall, you don’t fall through the wall. Why can’t you walk through walls? We’ll explore this surprisingly complex question that crosses both chemistry and physics.

Being a scientist is an exciting profession. The opportunity to investigate and discover the inner workings of the universe provides a deep reward that cannot be put into words. However, for many scientists, what we learn about our many connections to the world, to all living organisms, to the whole planet, to our whole galaxy, also provides an increased sense of purpose. The sense of awe and wonder at the intricacies and complexities of our very existence give many scientists a deep sense of gratitude and empathy with all other forms of life, and deep understanding of our place in the universe that even goes as far as to provide a sense of the meaning of life.

More than 160 years have passed since Charles Darwin published his theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. He wrote his book

Did you know that your teeth dissolve in your mouth? It’s not pleasant to think about, but demineralization (dissolving) and remineralization (precipitation) are ongoing processes that have a big impact on oral health. The combination of chemicals in toothpaste are chosen to not only clean teeth but also to protect them from the demineralization process by making them less soluble. Come learn about how solubility equilibria and Le Châtelier’s Principle play a role in keeping your teeth intact.

This introductory workshop will build on what you know and provide insight into goals for additional learning!

SARS-CoV-2 is the newest viral threat to humanity, following HIV, SARS, MERS, and flu strains like the one that caused the 1918 pandemic. Why are some viruses so deadly? How do new ones arise and spread? Can we draw from experience to defeat this one? This webinar puts coronaviruses in context, discovering many topics you will soon cover in your biology course - genetics, ecology, evolution, and immunology.

New techniques, such as CRISPR gene editing, mitochondrial transformation, and genetic drives, are changing the ways in which living organisms are studied and modified. Learn about these techniques and confront the social, moral, and ethical issues raised by the new human genetics.