UNH Today

Christopher Bauer, professor of chemistry at UNH, has been honored with the prestigious American Chemical Society’s Achievement in Research for the Teaching and Learning of Chemistry award. This accolade celebrates his significant contributions to experimental research, enhancing our understanding of chemical pedagogy and improving chemistry education.

“It is an honor to be recognized by my peers in chemistry education research,” says Bauer. “It acknowledges that I and my students and collaborators have contributed investigations and publications that grow our understanding of how students learn about chemistry and how teaching approaches can support that learning.”

Since the 1980s, Bauer has been designing and studying inquiry-based learning activities across educational levels, from elementary to university students. His research, which includes grant funding from the National Science Foundation, spans student attitudes, misconceptions, discovery-based curricula, and self-awareness as learners, integrating both qualitative and quantitative methods from psychology and education. His outreach also extends to K-12 education and professional development for science faculty at all levels.

Bauer notes that his research often takes the form of interview investigations that listen in as students try to make sense of chemical problems and ideas. Though it is not the full scope of his research, his work does include research pertaining to inquiry-based learning in his classroom through a Peer Led Team Learning (PLTL) model. That effort was the foundation for Bauer being named the 2023 UNH Distinguished Professor. His approach has made a positive impact for students participating in the program and one that has been adopted in other subject areas at UNH.

The ACS award includes a $5,000 and up to $2,500 for travel expenses to the ACS annual awards event. The ACS is a non-profit founded in 1876 and chartered by the U.S. Congress. It is one of the world’s largest scientific organizations and its mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people.