When it comes to innovative teaching methods,
chemistry professor George Barany deserves
special mention.
Barany’s students grapple
with the fundamentals of chemistry in a manner
that brings new meaning to the old educational
motto, “Learn by doing.” The annual
Organic Fantasy, a student skit staged in honor
of Halloween, offers science-oriented thespians
the chance to show their stuff in an audiovisual
salute to chemical reactions. Backed by a student-produced
musical accompaniment, volunteers from Barany’s
introductory organic chemistry class take the
roles of an aggressive nucleophile attempting
to bond with a winsome chiral carbon, only
to be thwarted by some sturdy-looking folks
portraying steric hindrance. And that’s
only part of it. The cast also called for several
musicians/substitutes, not to mention a proton
to be performed by a red hat.
Why the music? “Well, there are concert-ed reactions
involved,” explains Barany.
The skit is fun, but that’s not the
main point.
“Practicing for the skit was the best
way to learn the concepts because it forced
you to learn the material…,” says
IT undergrad Tim Marass. “I almost wish
we could write more skits on other material.”
“Practicing for the skit was the best
way to learn the concepts because it forced
you to learn the material…,” says
IT undergrad Tim Marass. “I almost wish
we could write more skits on other material.”