Biographical note

Richard Bauer completed his B.S. in chemistry at Saginaw Valley State University (Michigan) and his M.A. and Ph.D. in chemistry education at Purdue University. He is currently the faculty head for science, mathematics, and social science at the Downtown Phoenix Campus of Arizona State University. As general chemistry coordinator on the Tempe campus, Dr. Bauer implemented an inquiry-based laboratory program. He has taught introductory and general chemistry courses for more than 25 years as well as a methods of chemistry teaching course. Dr. Bauer enjoys the diversity of students enrolled in introductory chemistry and is interested in student visualization of abstract, molecular-level concepts; teaching assistant training; and methods of secondary-school chemistry teaching. James Birk received a B.A. in chemistry from St. John's University (Minnesota) and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Iowa State University. He currently is Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Arizona State University. Dr. Birk began his academic career at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was appointed to the Rhodes-Thompson Chair of Chemistry. Dr. Birk's teaching responsibilities have included general, introductory, and inorganic chemistry; chemistry for engineers; methods of teaching chemistry; and graduate courses on inorganic reaction mechanisms, chemical education, and science education. He has received awards for Distinction in Undergraduate Teaching and for Teaching Innovation, the National Catalyst Award, and the President's Medal for Team Excellence. He has been a feature editor for the Journal of Chemical Education. Dr. Birk's research has focused on visualization, inquiry-based instruction, and misconceptions (chemistry concept inventory). Pamela Marks received her B.A. in chemistry from St. Olaf College and her M.A. in inorganic chemistry at the University of Arizona. She currently is a principal lecturer in the School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State University, where her main focus for the past 22 years has been teaching introductory chemistry, general chemistry, and chemistry for engineers. Professor Marks has been involved in improving inquiry-based learning in the general chemistry program and recently modified her introductory chemistry course to a flipped classroom format. She also has taught in the general chemistry program at the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University in Minnesota. Previous education publications include a multimedia-based general chemistry education curriculum.