The van... transports chemicals, supplies and support
personnel... for experiments aimed at enhancing
students' understanding and appreciation of chemistry
and scientific inquiiry.

The van, a gift from the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh, transport chemicals, Supplies and support personnel to public schools for experiments aimed at enhancing students understanding and appreciation of chemistry and scientific inquiry. High school students from 14 participating public schools work with the equipment in conducting experiments. They learn from experiments on socially and environmentally relevant topics conducted by their teachers with the assistance of a CSU chemical professional and a certified Illinois Secondary Education chemistry teacher who drives the van. The two assist the public school teacher in class instruction and provide materials needed for the day's activities.
During the summer, 14 public school teachers from various schools received training for the project. Tamara Shibayama chemistry instructor at Sullivan High school, who was among them, is very optimistic about the Project's success.
"I believe the program is motivating more students to like chemistry" she said. " it is also making chemistry more relevant to their lives by doing experiments with what they have and see."
Shibayama incorporated the components of the in-service program into Her curriculum before the project formally started. She purchased equipment and chemicals to conduct experiments for the 140 9th through 12th grade students she teaches. Shibayama also plans to use the knowledge she acquired from the in-service program for her physical science class.
Dr. Michael Mimnaugh chairperson of CSU's department of chemistry and physics and one of the project coordinators is confident that the project will arouse the interest of youth in chemistry and help increase minority representation in the field. Mimnaugh added that the number of public schools involved with the project will increase to 65 in the near future sending 1,000 students.
The chemical van projects is funded by over $250,000 in support grants from The National Science Foundation (Chicago Systemic Initiative), the Illinois board of higher education, Perkin-Elmer corporation, Sargent Welch/Hanna corporation and others.