BUILDING STEM CONFIDENCE THROUGH EXTRACURRICULAR INSTRUMENT TRAINING: A UV-VIS SPECTROSCOPY CASE STUDY

Authors

Amber Burns*, Georgia State University Perimeter College, Clarkston, GA 30021Follow
Selena Tomson*, Georgia State University Perimeter College, Clarkston, GA 30021Follow
Theodore Williams*, Georgia State University Perimeter College, Clarkston, GA 30021Follow
Vivian Mativo, Georgia State University Perimeter College, Clarkston, GA 30021Follow

Abstract

Undergraduate research programs enhance student confidence. The EXCITE UV-Vis curriculum, a component of the Extra-Curricular Instrument Training Experience, engages students in spectrophotometric analysis through a series of experiments using dyes, in particular food dyes and methylene blue. Hands-on activities include determining the concentration of food dyes in sports drinks and exploring pollutant removal using renewable adsorbents such as fruit peels, rice, and lentils. These projects teach students to design experiments, validate data, and troubleshoot instrumentation in a collaborative setting. The curriculum emphasizes both technical proficiency and scientific reasoning, enabling students to interpret quantitative results and connect them to environmental and health contexts. This poster will discuss how the EXCITE UV-Vis curriculum bridges classroom theory with real-world applications, fostering confidence, analytical skills, and readiness for further undergraduate research.

Acknowledgements

NSF IUSE PD 21-7980 grant 2323078

Recommended Citation

Burns*, Amber; Tomson*, Selena; Williams*, Theodore; and Mativo, Vivian (2026) "BUILDING STEM CONFIDENCE THROUGH EXTRACURRICULAR INSTRUMENT TRAINING: A UV-VIS SPECTROSCOPY CASE STUDY," Georgia Journal of Science, Vol. 84, No. 1, Article 130.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.gaacademy.org/gjs/vol84/iss1/130