FRS 001 — Sec. 006 — (1 unit) — CRN 25993 — R 9:00-9:50am — 3450 Chem Annex
Data Mining in the Chemical Sciences

Instructor: Mark Mascal, Department of Chemistry, College of Letters and Science

Description: The physical sciences have experienced a data explosion in the past 2-3 decades. But while the amount of published information has increased exponentially, so also has the ability of computers to virtually manage this information. This course will look closely at the very concept of research and explore powerful methods scientists use to gather the data necessary to support their research plans without ever leaving their office, using dedicated computer search engines and databases.

Format: Classes will meet for 10 one-hour sessions in the Chemistry Department computer laboratory.  The instructor will begin with the question, "what is research?" Discussion will focus on the Scientific Method and avoiding errors in reasoning. From there, the means available for developing raw ideas into research proposals will be introduced, i.e. methods for searching the primary chemical and biomedical literature.  The students will then use these methods to engage in curiosity-driven projects on subjects of current popular interest related to the chemical sciences. Grading: The course grade will be based on a 5-page written report (67%) and a brief Powerpoint presentation to the class (33%).

About the Instructor: Professor Mark Mascal is a member of the Department of Chemistry. His research interests are in making new, topologically interesting molecules and in the modeling of "virtual" molecules which gradually progress from his imagination, to the cyberspace of his computer, and finally to the laboratory. He teaches undergraduate organic chemistry and a graduate course on industrial chemistry.