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Director of Undergraduate Studies, Chemistry Department
Clinical Associate Professor, Chemistry Department

Cathrine "Kate" Reck, Ph.D. came to Department of Chemistry at Indiana University in the summer of 2001 to hold the position of Clinical Assistant Professor. She earned a B.A. in chemistry from Kalamazoo College (Kalamazoo, MI), where she studied a year abroad in Strasbourg, France at the University of Strasbourg. Her Ph.D. is from Wayne State University (Detroit, MI) where she did her research in organometallic chemistry, specifically the synthesis of highly metalated aromatic compounds under the direction of Professor Charles H. Winter.

She carried out her postdoctoral work in the synthesis of highly electrophilic olefin polymerization catalysts under the direction of Professor Richard F. Jordan at The University of Iowa and The University of Chicago. After teaching at Michigan Technological University (Houghton, MI) for one year, she accepted a teaching faculty position here at IU. Her primary responsibilities are the teaching of freshmen chemistry, non-majors chemistry, inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry.

Recent Teaching Activities

Our department implemented a 1:2:1 curriculum for all science majors in fall 2005. This entails that students take one semester of general chemistry (C117), followed by a two-semester sequence of organic with lab (C341/C342/C343), culminating with a one semester course in intermediate inorganic chemistry (N330). Although we have been working on ironing out some of details as the year's progress, the curriculum seems to be working well and our number of majors has increased from 230 to nearly 500 majors in the last six years. I have begun work on an inorganic book for the fourth semester class that will hopefully address the needs that this course has been lacking thus far. Time now is being spent toward new curriculum development and assessment of our majors. A few new courses I have been developing are below.

G201: Service Learning in Chemistry

Since 2009, I have been coordinating with Kriste Lindeberg from Bloomington Parks & Recreation to organize and execute a new section of G201: Service Learning in Chemistry at IUB. This course addresses a different community-based service learning approach focused on water sampling and analyses than our present course that works with afterschool children. Students are trained using the Hoosier River Watch state-run program model. After a 6-hour training, students use a water sampling kit to analyze water samples for phosphates, nitrates, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, pH, temperature change (between inlet and outlets) and biological content. The data from these tests provides a measure of health for the water system tested.

We have adopted the Clear Creek Watershed for sampling, a main waterway through Bloomington, which has been broken it up into 8 quadrants. We chose the Clear Creek Watershed since this runs along Bloomington's new B-line Trail. With completion of the B-Line Trail, three trail systems will be connected: the B-Line, Bloomington Rail Trail and Clear Creek Trail, for a total distance of 7.4 miles. The city plans on this being a large avenue of traffic for pedestrians, joggers, bikers, kids and dog-walkers. This project can have a large impact on our city and the visibility of this project and for IU could be tremendous.

The area along the B-line Trail has some fundamental environmental issues that may not be obvious to the public. Clear Creek passes through the old railroad switching grounds where it is unknown what chemicals may have been processed or dumped over decades. Additionally, decades of creosote-covered railroad ties may have leeched into the soil and nearby watershed causing an unknown issue. Furthermore, a creosote plant existed in Bloomington up until the 1970's and this may have an impact on the water quality in this and nearby areas.

Creosote describes a variety of products but most people recognize it as being the black oily accretion that builds up inside of chimney flues as a result of incomplete burning of wood or coal. Commercially, wood creosote is created by high temperature treatment of beech and other woods, or from the resin of the creosote bush, and it is the black oily residue that is used as a preservative on railroad ties. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that coal tar creosote is most likely carcinogenic to humans, based on adequate animal evidence and limited human evidence. We will be testing for creosote levels in the surroundings areas since little is known about its water solubility over decades of exposure to rain and the natural environment.

In addition to continued water testing at the present 8 sites, the next phase of this project will be water sampling of the Jordan River on IU's campus and soil sampling along the B-line trail. Additionally, a local elementary school teacher has expressed interest in getting her fifth grade involved, and we have a few staff members that have already shown an interest (anyone can participate in Hoosier River Watch: http://www.in.gov/dnr/nrec/2945.htm). If you wish to become involved, feel free to contact me.

COLL–C105: Science of Warfare

Chemical technology influences a society's ability to make war and maintain peace. Terrorism has been a familiar tool of political conflict, and it has assumed greater importance during the past twenty years. This course will investigate terrorism in various forms, both biological and chemical, and we will be careful to avoid unnecessary alarmism in this introduction to these unconventional weapons. Students will learn about the chemical principles behind chemical agents, properties such as toxicity, which countries own and use them, and evaluating the threat that each kind of weapon poses and the likelihood of its global proliferation.

This course is designed to provide a cursory background over issues in war, peace, terrorism and counterterrorism for students from a wide range of disciplines and interests such as political science, journalism, psychology, health science, chemistry, biology, physics, etc. Offered in fall 2011 to coincide with the Themester "Making War, Making Peace", and may be repeated in fall 2012 (if successful!).

C555: STEM Courses in Chemistry for High School Teachers

Thanks to the foresight and support of the College of Arts and Sciences, the IU Department of Chemistry has been offering accelerated courses for high school teachers since summer 2010. High school teachers need professional development courses to keep up their licensure and to improve their content level within their disciplines. It's often common that teachers do not have degrees in the areas that they teach and high school chemistry teachers often teach with as little as four courses in chemistry from their bachelor's degree.

C555 runs as a two-week course in mid-July specifically to accommodate the schedules of teachers that get out in late June and commence again in early August. We meet for at least 5 hours/day for 10 days providing the teacher with a 3-credit hour class within two weeks. About half the teachers commute about an hour, while the other half stay in single dorms with shared baths (we secure rooms low rates for teachers and no charges are applied on the weekends).

In summer 2010, the first topic taught was Analytical Methods in Chemistry. The course was specifically designed for teachers who wanted a general overview in analytical methods taught with an application-driven context. We covered an overview of the most commonly-used instrumentation and techniques such as spectroscopy (e.g., IR, UV/Vis, NMR, atomic absorption), mass spectrometry, microscopy (e.g. STM, SPM, AFM), and separation methods (e.g. GC, HPLC). Hands-on lab experiences were provided for IR, MS, AA, with visits to many of the facilities on campus. The class had seven participants.

In summer 2011, the second topic taught was a survey or organic chemistry. We covered topics from both organic 1 and 2 and performed 4 fundamental organic lab techniques. Labs included: distillation of limonene from oranges; separation, extraction, and identification of an acid and a neutral compound; preparation of malachite green and crystal violet followed by tie-dying; preparation of a banana ester and analysis by GC.

The course focused on the integrating theory and reactivity patterns by reviewing the fundamental reactions: acid-base, addition (including rearrangements), elimination, substitution, electrophilic aromatic substitution and nucleophilic addition mechanisms. Bonding principles, functional groups, isomerism, stereochemistry, nomenclature, synthesis and reactions of by functional groups were discussed.

Each teacher's final project focused on how to teach general chemistry differently with respect to preparing students for organic better.

Next year's topic will be a C555: Survey of Inorganic & Organometallic Chemistry – I hope you can join us!

Publications

PubMed

"Less is More: The 1:2:1 Curriculum at Indiana University", Jill K. Robinson, C.E. Reck, Martha G. Oakley, International Conference on First-Year College Chemistry, online publication, 2007.

"Chemistry C117, Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Laboratory Manual," C.E. Reck, et. al., 1-6th editions, Hayden-McNeil Publishing, Inc., Plymouth, MI, 2003-2008.

"Chemistry N330, Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry, Laboratory Manual," C.E. Reck, S. M. Wietstock, K. Aumann, 1-3rd editions, Hayden-McNeil Publishing, Inc., Plymouth, MI, 2007.

"Newton's Dark Secrets" NOVA documentary aired November 15th 2005, shot on location at Indiana University in the Reck lab. It presented several results and re-enactments of Newton's alchemical experiments, conducted or devised by William R. Newman and Cathrine E. Reck. The BBC version of the documentary aired May 2004 in Britain.

"Tantalum-Mediated Coupling of C₂B₉H₁₀^2-. ΜSynthesis and Characterization of [(-H)(C₂B₉H₁₀)₂TaCl₂]," C.E. Reck; Y-X., Su; I.A. Guzei; R.F. Jordan Organometallics, 2000, 19, 4858.

"Synthesis, Structure and Reactivity of a 2,3-Dialuminated Indole Derivative," C.E. Reck; A. Bretschneider-Hurley; M.J. Heeg; C.H. Winter Organometallics, 1998, 17, 2906.

"Synthesis and Characterization of a Dimagnesiated Aromatic Compound: Oligomeric Derivatives from 1,4-Bis(chloromagnesio)-2,5-di-tert-butylbenzene," C.E. Reck; C.H. Winter, Organometallics, 1997, 16, 4493.

Awards

• Student Choice Teaching Award, Indiana University, 2004, 2008
• Board of Trustees Teaching Award, Indiana University, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2010
• Indiana University Blue Ribbon Faculty Award (2005), sponsored by Student Disability Services
• Institute for Manufacturing Research Fellowship, Wayne State University, 1996-1998

Highlights

• Faculty Fellow, Ashton Dormitory, Health Sciences Floor, Indiana University (2010 – present)
• Faculty Advisor, Student Affiliates Chapter of the American Chemical Society (SAACS; 2003 – present)
• Faculty Advisor, Timmy Global Health – IU Chapter (2003 – present)
• Faculty Advisor, Minority Association for Pre-Medical Students (MAPS) (2008 – present)
• Faculty Advisor, IU Women's Soccer Club (2009-present)
• Secretary, Southern Indiana Section of the American Chemical Society, 2005, 2008, 2009-present
• Chair, Southern Indiana Section of the American Chemical Society, Chair, 2004, 2006

Faculty Advisor, IU Chapter, Minority Association for Pre-Medical Students (MAPS)

(http://www.indiana.edu/~iumaps/)

The vision of the MAPS chapter is to address the needs of minority pre-medical students although you do not need to be a minority to be among its members. IU MAPS is dedicated to encouraging, retaining, and empowering minority students pursuing careers as physicians. By engaging in community service and outreach, we promote academic excellence, while acknowledging cultural accomplishments. IU MAPS' goals include creating relationships among minority pre-medical students, establishing relationship with health professionals, providing members access to vital workshops pertaining to medical school and the admissions process, and creating study tables so that students get to know each other while working on similar assignments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmZA5Lga_MY

Faculty Advisor, IU Chapter, Timmy Global Health

(http://www.indiana.edu/~timmyfc/)

Timmy Global Health organizes and executes medical mission trips by working with partners in the Dominican Republic, Honduras and most recently Ecuador and Guatemala. The IU Timmy chooses approximately 20-24 students to accompany 5-6 medical volunteers to work in a third world country over spring break. A typical trip provides care to 1000-1500 patients and provides students to a life-changing and new experience. Consider getting involved by helping fundraising toward or applying for an upcoming trip.

Volunteer, FUMC Wednesday Pantry

Late IU-Chemistry Professor Rupert Wentworth helped start the FUMC pantry located on 4th street downtown. The Pantry is a guided grocery store providing people a selection of a canned vegetable; canned, frozen, or occasionally fresh fruit; protein; a sweet; sometimes chips; and a cereal, bread, and extras delivered by the Hoosier Hills Food Bank Wednesday afternoons just before opening. All food comes from the Food Bank at a cost of 14 cents per pound or from donations. The Pantry serves families with young children, newly unemployed, the working poor, the disabled, the elderly on low fixed incomes, newly arrived immigrants, and the homeless. An average of more than 150 people/families are helped each week. Even if you don't have time to volunteer, we need paper bags and these can be dropped off at my office year-round.

Volunteer, Volunteers in Medicine (VIM Clinic)

(http://www.vimmonroecounty.org/)

In Monroe and Owen counties, nearly 21,000 individuals are without any type of health insurance. Members of the local community, hand-in-hand with members of the medical establishment and Bloomington Hospital, have established a non-profit organization which provides health care to the under-served individuals in the community. Volunteers in Medicine clinics rely on donated time from both retired and active physicians and nurses, as well as volunteers from the community to provide administrative support. This is a great way for students to get hands-on clinical experience while helping their community. Consider committing 4-5 hours/week over the period of one academic year.

Courses taught:

• C100: The World as Chemistry, 3 cr.
• COLL - C105: Science of Warfare, 3 cr. (Themester F2011 and critical approaches)
• C117: Fundamentals of Chemistry & Biochemistry, 5 cr. (lecture and lab)
• G201: Service Learning in Chemistry, 1 cr.
• G207: Chemical Scholarship & Presentation, 1 cr.
• G307: Chemical Career Planning, 1 cr.
• R340: Survey of Organic Chemistry, 3 cr.
• C341: Organic Chemistry I, 3 cr.
• C343: Organic Chemistry Laboratory I, 2 cr.
• S343: Honors Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (for majors), 2 cr.
• N330: Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry, 5 cr. (lecture and lab)
• C430: Inorganic Chemistry, 3 cr.
• C437: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, 2 cr.
• C555: Survey of Analytical Chemistry for High School Teachers
• C555: Survey of Organic Chemistry for High School Teachers