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Transforming Organic Chemistry Education
Through Community and Innovation
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Neil Garg
Distinguished Professor and Kenneth N. Trueblood Chair
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA
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Organic chemistry courses have a bad reputation, despite having a tremendous impact on our everyday lives. Organic chemistry has remained a notorious “weed-out” class for decades – striking fear in the hearts of students – and has long been viewed as a gatekeeper course for those interested in pursuing a career in medicine. In this presentation, Professor Garg will examine the underlying philosophies and practices through which he transformed organic chemistry into one of the most popular classes on the UCLA campus. He will also discuss efforts to promote organic chemistry education on a global scale through chemistry-themed music videos, educational websites, interactive games, and children’s books. The lessons described in this lecture, focusing on the importance of community and innovation in education, are broadly applicable well beyond the subject of organic chemistry.
Neil Garg has received numerous awards for his teaching and research, including the 2018 Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching (the largest university teaching prize in the world), and was named the 2015 California Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Education. Learn more about Profesor Garg's research and educational activities at the Garg Research Group website.
Attendees will receive organic chemistry coloring books authored by Professor Garg, his daughters, and his students.
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The Herschbach teacher/scientist lecture series recognizes scholars who excel both as scientists and as educators. The lecture series honors emeritus professor Dudley Herschbach, a Nobel-prize winning chemist and a devoted educator and is hosted by the Derek Bok Center for Teaching & Learning.
Additionally, Dr. Garg will discuss his scientific research at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology seminar on Thursday, November 3.
Directions from Science Center to Northwest Building (52 Oxford Street):
No registration needed. Open to Harvard faculty, staff, and students.
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