Outreach

Our group is deeply committed not only to science, but also to the teaching and outreach of science, and of course, of electrochemistry. Our group members are typically highly engaged with numerous organizations on campus and beyond, and amongst them we have had leaders such as former presidents of the SACNAS UIUC chapter, founding members of the Electrochemical Society (ECS) chapter, and student organizers of regional analytical chemistry conferences such as TRACC. Outreach has helped us maintain a strong, diverse group throughout the years:

The Rodríguez-López group throughout the years:

However, we have some favorite activities that we have been known for, and that we want to share with you.

The Electrochemical Bootcamp

Since starting at UIUC, The Rodríguez-López group has consistently organized and carried out “The Electrochemical Bootcamp. In its current version, the bootcamp consists of a three-day intensive laboratory and classroom instruction experience. Currently, the course includes 6 training modules (basic electrochemical setup, electrocatalysis/spectroelectrochemistry, simulations, ultramicroelectrodes, batteries and preparative electrochemistry, and scanning electrochemical microscopy), each one divided into 4 round-robin demonstrations and activities in the laboratory or computer. As a result, students are introduced to ~24 different experiments, 6 lectures, and 1 simulation session that enable them to learn the vocabulary and practice of electrochemistry. The bootcamp is designed for any level, and we have consistently welcomed from undergraduates to postdocs. For novice students the course helps decrease the anxiety to set up and run experiments; for advanced students it challenges their knowledge and fills gaps. Students prepare a final project in small group collaboration in order to put their newly acquired skills into use. Some flyers and pictures from previous activities are shown below:

Senior students and postdocs in the Rodríguez-López laboratory carry out demonstrations and guide experiments, which helps them develop instructional, outreach, and communication skills. Since 2018, We have consistently welcomed between 25 and 45 students on a first-request basis with previous approval (by e-mail) from their advisors. We especially welcome female researchers and students from underrepresented groups. The event is free of cost, and we try to support as much as possible the lodging of students from outside of UIUC. In the past, these costs have been generously supported by our grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF DMR 1905803 and NSF DMR 1611268).

We broadly advertise this activity using the Rodríguez-López group social media such as X (@JRlLab), on all relevant institutes and departments at UIUC, and via direct contact with PIs on several institutions that we visit throughout the year. Over the many years of this activity, we have trained hundreds of students from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, across Illinois (University of Illinois Chicago, University of Chicago, Millikin University, Chicago State University, Southern Illinois U Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville), from Universities in other states (University of California Los Angeles, University of California Davis, University of Texas el Paso, Rice University, Cornell University, Purdue University), scientists from large companies and from startups, and students coming from institutions in Mexico, Brazil, and Japan.

If you are an educator interested in launching a similar bootcamp, do not hesitate to reach out. Many of our participants describe this as a truly transformational experience because it challenges their abilities, allows them to see and touch electrochemical setups, and exposes them to unique aspects of electrochemistry. Post bootcamp surveys have been used to assess the perception of the students with respect to topics learned. Students were asked to rate from 1 (min) to 5 (max) their level of confidence to carry out an electrochemical experiment, and with respect to key topics such as mass transfer, electrochemical kinetics, surface science, and electrochemical materials. After the bootcamp, students have historically reported a ~1.5-fold increase in their perception of confidence to run an electrochemical experiment, and a ~1.6-fold increase in their perception of knowledge of the key topics. They highly rated their satisfaction with the course as enabling them to translate theory to experiment.

If you are interested in joining this training opportunity, please reach out directly to JRL or be on the lookout for the announcement of the activity in our account on X and other social media platforms.

Cena y Ciencias

For several years our group has participated in the Cena y Ciencias (CyC, Supper and Science) program at UIUC. CyC is a joint effort between faculty, Illinois Extension, the Urbana and Champaign Dual Language programs, and the Students Association of Chicano, Hispanic and Native Americans in Sciences (SACNAS). CyC is designed to increase the involvement of students and parents across language and cultural groups and to support literacy in Spanish in the sciences. Overall, we want children to learn that they belong in science, regardless of their language (or the language used in their homes), and for parents and other family members to get to meet students in our groups, to know that becoming a scientist is a great life choice. JRL has participated in the design and translation (to Spanish) of activities, the adaptation of outreach activities and samples for the younger audience in CyC, and the organization of Spanish-speaking students from within the JRL and other groups on campus. Our group has introduced activities for diverse topics, including electrochemistry, recycling, and renewable energy.

For 2019-2020 the topic of CyC was Ciencia para salvar al mundo (Science to save the world) which was organized and led by our group as part of an NSF-funded seed project at the I-MRSEC. During the pandemic years, CyC activities took place online, which prevented us from organizing large-scale activities with parents and children. Still, for the 2020-2021 we organized the CyC COVID edition which touched on several aspects related to the science behind fighting the pandemic. Online sessions included those describing the the science of smell, fluorescence and phosphorescence, and COVID detectives. I participated in the planning and execution of several of the activities delivered. We shared experiences about life as a research scientist with attending parents and children, as well as fundamental aspects of scientific research such as the scientific method.

Another one of our favorite activities is the one planned, organized, and executed by our group in the final session of the CyC 2021-2022 cycle with the topic Electric Bubbles / Burbujas Elećtricas. The activity opened with a video that JRL translated to Spanish describing the new hydrogen fuel cell buses in town introduced the Champaign Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) where the technology was described. Then JRL and group members made a demonstration on the generation of hydrogen using Zn reduction of an acidic solution, creating exploding bubbles. Once we caught the interest of the children, we proceeded to hands-on experiments showing the electrolysis of water using batteries and different materials and solution. Finally, for the big ending we had one of the MTD buses come on site and we took the participants for a ride, highlighting the differences between a combustion and a fuel-cell engine. Participants enjoyed thoroughly the activity, which gave the opportunity for our group members to communicate with the public, instructing concepts of electrocatalysis to younger audiences, and discussing the impact of our work with the general public.

Memories of Cena y Ciencias promotionals, volunteers, and activities in action.

Invited Speaking

We love to give outreach presentations about electrochemistry and the professional life of an electrochemist. In the past, we have participated in several, diverse workshops and speaking invitations which really demonstrate the breath of experiences we can share:

Think Small: The Great Power of Small Electrodes (and what they can do for you). Presented frequently at the Next Generation Electrochemistry (NGenE), University of Illinois, Chicago IL.

Analytical Chemistry class at Hope College (Instructor: Prof. Natalia Gonzalez-Pech), invited speaker of Redox Nanotitrations October 21, 2022, online.

Chem 222 class at the University of Illinois Chicago (Instructor: Prof. Ginevra Clark) invited speaker of Redox Nanotitrations March 3, 2021 and October 29, 2020.

Chem 590F class, taught by Prof. Steven C. Zimmerman: Grantsmanship Panel, February 11, 2019, and Looking for an Academic Career Panel February 4, 2013.

Women’s Chemistry Committee Lunch Panel on Engaging with your Committee Members, April 10, 2018.

New Trends in Energy Storage: How Research at the Smallest Scale Impacts our Largest Societal Needs Chambana Cafe (Organized by the Institute for Genomic Biology). February 7th, 2018.

Professional Career Panel at the Gordon Research Symposium in Electrochemistry, Ventura CA, January 7, 2018.

Jumpstarting Young Scientists into Advanced Energy Research. 68th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Electrochemistry, Joint ISE-ECS Symposium on Education, Providence RI, August 28, 2017.

Electrochemistry at the Nanoscale. Presented to the Quantitative Analysis Laboratory Section, Department of Chemistry, Eureka College, Eureka IL, March 30, 2017.

Student-Faculty-Industry Networking: Getting Students Prepared for their Careers. Participated as panelist, Pittcon 2017 in Chicago IL, March 7, 2017.