AU Students Win Prestigious Chemistry Award

American University News


Women have been making huge strides in the science world for
centuries, and American University women are no exception. Seniors Sarah
Burkhard and Cassidy Hart have been chosen for the College Chemistry
Achievement Award by the Chemical Society of Washington. The award annually
recognizes outstanding scientists in the District's universities, and Burkhard
and Hart were selected from among hundreds of students to receive this
honor.
AU's Department of Chemistry is characterized by
one-on-one faculty-student relationships, working toward the goal of equipping
students to conduct independent research and discovery. Burkhard and Hart have
done just that, says Shouzhong Zou, department chair. Burkhard has been
interning at the Institute for Science and International Security, and Hart has
already published a paper in the Journal
of Inorganic Biochemistry. She has several other papers in the works.
"Like many of our high achieving students, Sarah [Burkhard] and
Cassidy [Hart] transformed from knowledge receivers to knowledge producers,"
said Zou. "They are both persistent, proactive, and self-driven."
What stands out about Burkhard and Hart is not only their
knowledge of chemistry, but also their passion for the field. Both women
understand chemistry's meaning beyond that of the scientific world. Burkhard
sees the art in it. "I love that chemistry is creative destruction in the most
natural, purest form," she says. "In that respect, chemistry can teach you a
lot about life—both scientifically and philosophically." 
Hart says she is inspired by the process of laboratory work. "I
love the puzzle of chemistry and the creativity that is used in the lab. Chemistry
is about solving problems using the tools you've learned in classes, but it's
also about using these tools in new and different ways."
Both students acknowledge the lack of gender diversity in STEM (science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields and the importance of
fostering the education of young women in these fields. "Diversity is ...

Read More