Editor's Notes
Greetings Penn State Chemistry!
This edition of the newsletter includes alumni news, department happenings, a message from the Department Head and the GSA, Health & Wellness Tips, Chemistry Safety Insights, and Jackie Bortiatynski's Teaching Corner.
If you wish to have a story shared in a future newsletter, please contact me at chemcommunications@psu.edu.
Kathryn Harlow, Communications Coordinator
A Message from the Department Head
Learning how to win
I was visiting family recently. My parents have moved in with my sister, and I went to see them with a set of my own ideas on how to “fix” some problems I thought I had identified. But when I got there, none of my solutions worked, or perhaps more accurately, none were accepted. I had ideas on how to help with meals, room layouts, and other arrangements. The funny thing is that I didn’t get frustrated. Over the years, I’ve learned that we have to learn how to win.
As a golf fan, I find it is great fun (and easy) to take interest in the story of the person who wins a tournament: to delight in their joy, the hard work that brought them there, and their gratitude to their families and team. But what might be more interesting is the story of those who didn’t win. Did they fail? I like to think instead that they are learning how to win. I enjoyed the show “Full Swing” on Netflix, which was about golfers who were struggling. I think it made for a more interesting story.
I’ve faced disappointments as department head when I didn’t hire a faculty member, or when my research group’s paper didn’t get into the journal we wanted. That feeling of disappointment won’t change — competitive people want to succeed and they have expectations about it. However, we can try to look at it as an opportunity to learn how to win the next time. The physicist Richard Feynman wrote about this topic when he advised parents “Don't just teach your children how to be successful, teach them how to respond when they are not successful, teach them how to handle failures and learn from their mistakes.” As a father of three children and a Ph.D. advisor to over 30 graduate students, I think Richard got it right.
Because we are human, we live knowing partially; no one can feed us these answers. Not a professor, not a Nobel Laureate, not Chat GPT! I like the line from Jack Johnson, “And know that if I knew all of the answers I would not hold them from you.” To create new knowledge takes faith, bravery, and learning how to deal with adversity. Hopefully, we can see setbacks not as failures, but as learning how to win.
Best Wishes,
Phil Bevilacqua
The Graduate Student Association (GSA)
A Message From Vice-President Kara Pytko:
🎤 "Do you remember... the GSA events of September?" 🎤
This past month kicked off the Fall semester in the best way possible. We welcomed new graduate students to the department and have hosted exciting events! Here is a re-cap of what we participated in: tailgates, interdepartmental bonfire hosted by MRS, seminar with ExxonMobil recruiter Scott Berkhous, coffee hour with the Dean, outreach events at Park Forest Elementary, Mount Nittany Middle School, Discovery Space, etc., annual departmental t-shirt design contest, and graduate student advocate nominations. Stay tuned on our social media and look out for our emails regarding upcoming events such as a Fall Town Hall, homecoming, industry talks, tailgates, and more!
Reminder - Chemistry Department Tailgates will be on the following dates:
10/14 – Vs. UMass, 3:30 PM
11/11 – Vs. Michigan, 12 PM
Follow us on Instagram (psuchemgsa), Twitter (@ChemGSA_PSU), Facebook (PSU Chemistry GSA) and LinkedIn (Penn State Chemistry Alumni).
GSA Executive Board 2023-2024
Health Promotion & Wellness Tips
Provided by PSU CAPS
Setting yourself up for success this school year:
- Start a standard routine for your basics needs: meals, sleep, physical movement
- Add some novelty to your week: take a new route to class/the office or try a new ice cream flavor next time you visit the Creamery
- Plan positive social interactions into your regular schedule: make a calendar appointment for a phone call with a friend
- Try WellTrack Boost for regular mood check-ins and techniques for mindfulness and stress management
Teaching Corner with Jackie
DEI in Teaching & Learning
When I was searching for new resources to support my teaching, I found the 2nd edition (released this past spring) of a valued reference: “How Learning Works: 8 Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching” by Ambrose et.. The first edition of this book, which was published 10 years ago, has served as a major reference for me and many colleagues in the Eberly College of Science. I have referred to it again and again because the content is designed specifically for the practitioner while always sharing educational research resources. It was the perfect bridge between science education research and educational practice.
I was delighted to see that the authors have expanded the number of smart principles to 8, with the addition of a chapter focusing on the social, emotional, and cultural dimensions of learning. This information helps all of us think more deeply and grapple with the inequity and marginalization that learners can face. The remaining chapters and references in the new edition have also been updated with a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion as it relates to teaching and learning.
Take care and I hope the start of your semester has been great,
Jackie Bortiatynski