The study of chemistry provides an atomic/molecular basis for understanding the world. Hands-on, inquiry-based experiences that ask students to construct their own knowledge and communicate it to others lead to a deep understanding of chemical concepts.

Our philosophy is that students should learn chemistry by doing what chemists actually do, using sophisticated instruments and techniques that practicing chemists use from the start, providing molecular-level insight to reinforce an understanding of the macroscopic behavior of materials, and gaining facility in their symbolic representation.

Chemists are often key players who work together in interdisciplinary teams that address important questions in medicine, environmental issues, biotechnology, and nanotechnology.