Making Connections in Research and Teaching
Research funding is only a part of being a Cottrell Scholar, says CS 1994 Nancy Makri, professor of chemistry and physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
“What’s different about the award is the heavy teaching component, which is not emphasized in many other grants,” she said. Especially as a theorist, learning from others how to convey excitement about your work and “bring your research into the classroom” has been invaluable to Makri.
She said the give-and-take with other scientists at the Cottrell Scholar conferences she has been able to attend has been invaluable. “Discussions with Cottrell Scholar colleagues encourage you to think of your research in the broader context of education and of reaching your students,” she said.
One major takeaway from these discussions has stayed with her throughout her career: “There isn’t a single approach to teaching that is effective.”
“It is interesting to see that two diametrically opposed styles of teaching can both be effective,” she said.
Although Makri’s research is very abstract and not as easy as some other disciplines might be to explain, she says she’s worked hard to be able to help students make the connections they need to understand. This effort was recognized recently when she was honored with the School of Chemical Sciences 2020 Teaching Award.
As an example, a few years ago Makri was asked to introduce students at the local high school to the world of quantum mechanics.
Many of the students were in band or choir, so Makri brought a keyboard and used music as a fun way to help them make a connection to her work.
She explained that quantum phenomena are based on waves, something we all understand in many contexts such as water and light. Using the basic properties of a wave and adding some pretty simple math, she obtained the frequencies of musical notes. Discussing why some intervals and chords are pleasing and others make an unpleasant sound helped the students explore music from a theoretical approach. From there, she explained that other things with waves are resonant as well, giving the students a way toward an abstract understanding of her work.
In addition to helping her be a better teacher, Makri said being a Cottrell Scholar has carried a certain respect, enabling her more effectively to persuade her institution to give her some extra funding or the go-ahead to innovate and try new approaches, she said. “Saying you are a Cottrell Scholar means something.”
