Students are to get a 21st century chemistry laboratory
Latest laboratory equipment supplied to University research laboratory.
Agilent Technologies Inc. (Wokingham, UK) has recently announced that they will be involved in redesigning and building the chemistry and chemical engineering laboratories at the College of Chemistry of the University of California (UC), Berkeley (CA, USA).
The construction at Latimer Hall has already begun under the title “Chemical Science Laboratories for the 21st Century” project. Agilent will be supplying a collection their high-performance chromatography and molecular spectroscopy instruments and software, allowing UC Berkeley’s students much improved access to a range of the latest laboratory equipment.
The Dean of UC Berkeley’s College of Chemistry, Richard Mathies, commented, “This redevelopment campaign integrates modern laboratory infrastructure with a complete rethinking of our curriculum and methods for delivering instruction. We set out to create a facility that will enhance learning for all our undergrads – not just the chemistry and science majors-and empower a new generation of scientists and industry leaders.”
The portfolio of equipment due to be supplied by Agilent includes a complete range of instruments designed to meet the diverse needs of a teaching laboratory, such as automated instrumentation and the ability to process large volumes of experiments. Agilent will also be supplying their latest fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, GC, GC–MS, LC and microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometer technologies.
“These new instruments make up the foundation of our new instructional core facility, which will help facilitate interactive learning and promote the latest analytical measurement practices and processes for generations to come,” adds Mathies.
The undergraduate chemistry laboratories at UC Berkeley’s College of Chemistry had not received a thorough upgrade for almost 50 years, and so the purchase of Agilent’s instrument package is hoped to be a major boost for the university and its students.
Jim Lynch, Agilent’s director of academic programs for the Americas, expressed his thoughts on the project, “We are extraordinarily pleased to join forces with UC Berkeley in educating and inspiring a new generation of students and future scientists. We will continue to provide ongoing support and collaborate with Dean Mathies and his team as they fortify UC Berkeley’s prominence among academic laboratories worldwide.”
Source: Agilent Technologies’ instrumentation to power student research at new UC Berkeley chemistry lab.
