Chemical Engineering E3810y:
Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry Laboratory

1. Develop skills in formulating experimentally based solutions to achieve specified objectives.
2. Enhance ability to creatively synthesize classroom knowledge for solving open-ended problems.
3. Teach critical analysis and evaluation of data – including iterative optimization of experimental design that integrates preliminary results.
4. Improve written and oral communication skills.
5. Teach cooperative and teamwork based approaches to problem resolution.
6. Validate engineering concepts and principles from prior coursework.
7. Familiarize students with assembly and use of laboratory apparatus.
8. Educate students in safe laboratory practices.

These objectives are related to those of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) in this table.

Staff:

Instructor	Email
Scott Calabrese Barton, Assistant Professor	scb2001@columbia.edu
Mesrob "Mike" Odian, Adjunct Professor	mo116@columbia.edu
Min Zheng, Teaching Assistant	zm2001@columbia.edu
Chun-Hsieh "Alex" Wu, Teaching Assistant	cw2008@columbia.edu

Meetings:

Groups M1, M2, M3 and M4: Mondays, 1:00 - 5:00 PM, 281 Engineering Terrace
Groups W1, W2, W3 and W4: Wednesdays, 1:00 - 5:00 PM, 281 Engineering Terrace

Course Organization:

Students will work in groups of three. Each group will complete a total of 4 full projects, with each project spanning three weeks. The schedule of projects is posted below.

Full Projects:
During week one of each full project, the groups will discuss with the instructors the project objectives and thoroughly become familiar with the operation of equipment used for that project. After this discussion and before attending week two of the laboratory, each group must design an experimental procedure by which the project objectives are expected to be met. The experimental design is to be done independently by each group, and is perhaps the most crucial (and most challenging) part of each project. To be successful, each group must bring their knowledge of chemical engineering principles to bear on the problem posed by the project. Material from past classes as well as new issues may need to be reviewed and considered. As the projects are open-ended, there are multiple ways and degrees to which the project objectives can be met - the group must decide on the particular path to follow.

At the beginning of laboratory on week two, the groups will outline their experimental plan to the instructor associated with their project before proceeding to carry out the measurements. The experimental plan will count for 40% of the grade for that project. After completing the measurements, each group will be responsible for analyzing their results and for preparing a written and an oral report (see links below for details on both types of reports). The written report must be handed in at the start of class on week three, and will count for 30% of the project grade. NO LATE REPORTS WILL BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT PRIOR AUTHORIZATION BY THE INSTRUCTOR FOR THAT PROJECT. All written reports are to be handed in to the teaching assistant. The oral reports will be presented by all groups during class meeting on week three, and will also count for 30% of the project grade.

Grading:

Each Full Project:	30 % if primary author, 10 % otherwise
Total for four projects:	60 % (= 30 % + 10 % + 10 % + 10 %)
Final Exam:	30 %
Attendance:	10 %

Each full project grade will be evaluated based on experimental design (40 %), written report (30 %), and oral report (30 %).


Important information regarding grading:

Each group member must be a primary author on a full project once. For reports with a primary author, the project counts 30 % toward that author's final grade and 10 % toward the final grade of the other group members. If a report does not have a primary author, the project will count 10 % toward the final grade of each group member. Groups must individually decide which reports will have a primary author, and who the author will be. For additional details on the responsibilities of the primary author please see the links for "Written Report Guidelines" and "Oral Report Guidelines" below.

The written reports must be personally handed-in to the teaching assistant for the project at the beginning of class on week three of the project.

Late Reports: In general, late reports will not be accepted. In outstanding situations, a report may be handed in late if prior permission has been obtained from the instructor for that project. Such extensions will be granted only in truly rare circumstances, and the decision to provide an extension is at the instructor's discretion. It is the entire group's responsibility to ensure that the written and oral reports are finished on time. Please note that the staff is unable to differentiate among members of a group with respect to late reports.

An unexcused absence from class will result in that student's "attendance" to be decreased by 1 %.

The final exam is completed and graded on an individual basis, not as a group. The exam will consist of multiple choice, fill in the blank, and short answer questions drawn from the material on which the projects were based. Please note that, in contrast to other laboratory courses, a substantial part of each student's grade is dependent on the final examination. The exam will be given in class on May 1st.

Definition of Primary Author:

The primary author is the leader on the project. He/she is viewed by the instructors as being given the responsibility of ensuring that the project is appropriately designed, executed, and reported. It may be that he/she designates what parts of the project are to be completed by which group personnel. It is not expected that the primary author single-handedly complete a project; on the contrary, all group members (including the primary author) are expected to put forth similar efforts on each and every project. However, the primary author is responsible for reviewing the project at each stage to ensure it is being properly completed. In other words, the primary author has an administrative responsibility for the project's success. Also, the primary author will give the majority of the oral presentation for the project (see Oral Report Guidelines).

That said, the role of the primary author as regards project design and the written report is left to each group to implement as they best see fit. However, it should be recalled that each group member must be the primary author once. A well-organized, collaborative, fairly-distributed effort should prove to everyone's advantage.

Laboratory Notebook:

Each group needs to keep a laboratory notebook in which only material (such as data, sketches, descriptions) relevant to this course is kept. A simple "marble cover" composition book will suffice. There is no requirement for numbered or duplicate pages, but no pages are to be removed. Incorrect material is to be crossed out neatly.

Safety:

We want all students to be safe. We want no electrical shocks, no chemical burns, no falls on wet floors, no injuries from rotating machinery, no infections from unattended cuts, no burns from hot surfaces or materials, no hazards from fire or smoke inhalation. Even mild joking around will be regarded as a serious infraction if it poses a safety concern.

There are three main safety rules

1. Each student must have eye protection in place, that is, actually protecting their eyes, at all times. A student will be asked to leave the laboratory if they do not have eye protection. One pair of safety goggles will be provided for everyone. Thereafter, each student is responsible for bringing their safety goggles whenever working in the lab. Please note that the instructors will not keep any extra safety goggles to be lent.
   
   
2. No food or drink is allowed in the laboratory area.
   
   
3. Shorts and/or sandals are not to be worn in the laboratory area.

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