Professor George Lisensky
Department of Chemistry
Beloit College
Beloit, WI 53511 USA
Robert H. Solem Emeritus Professor in the Sciences
(608) 363-2225
EMAIL: lisensky@beloit.edu
Experience
I produce browser-based molecular visualization interactive models (Jsmol pages), primarily for introductory and inorganic chemistry.
I wrote Kplot, an equilibrium graphing program that produces logarithmic concentration, distribution, and titration plots for acid-base, solubility, metal-ligand and redox equilibria based on the master variable approach. It runs on OSX, Windows, Linux and Raspberry. This graphical tools approach allows complex systems to be studied while focusing more on chemistry and less on algebra.
I helped develop new ways to use new materials technologies in chemistry education and exploring science and engineering concepts through an association with the NSF-funded Nanostructured Materials Research Science and Engineering Center. Highlights include the Video Lab Manual for Nanoscale Science and Technology and a polyhedral model kit.
As a member of the ChemLinks Coalition producing pedagogy oriented interdisciplinary topical modules for chemistry education, my contributions included software and modules on solid state chemistry and on environmental soil equilibria.
The lab-first General Chemistry course at Beloit College uses active learning and laboratory activities in each class meeting. The course aims to provide a better introduction to what chemists do and includes laboratory projects using modern instrumentation such as IR, NMR, GC, and AA. The course focuses on materials, stressing the relation between atomic/molecular structure and properties and has been recognized by Project Kaleidoscope as one of their Programs that Work.
I was a co-principal investigator of a National Science Foundation grant for "Development of a Materials-Oriented General Chemistry Course." Many introductory chemistry courses focus on small molecules, gases, and liquids, but solids are an important part of our materials-intensive world. Virtually every topic discussed in a general chemistry course can be illustrated with examples and concepts from materials chemistry. The project resulted in resulted in the publication of Teaching General Chemistry: A Materials Science Companion, A. B. Ellis, M. J. Geselbracht, B. J. Johnson, G. C. Lisensky, and W. R. Robinson; ISBN 0-8412-2725-X, ACS Books, Washington, 1993, 550 pages and a a solid-state model kit. See also Chemical and Engineering News, "Chemistry Curriculum Reform Focuses on Content, Technology, and Pedagogy," August 29, 1994, page 35, and "You Do Teach Atoms, Don't You? A Case Study in Breaking Science Curriculum Gridlock," by L. Lyons and S. B. Millar, LEAD Center, Madison, WI 1995.
Other
Education Publications
Research Publications
Presentations