NSF’s ChemMatCARS participated in the Exemplary Student Research Program (ESRP) organized by Argonne National Laboratory. This program is specifically designed to bring high school students and their teachers to work in a team with Argonne Scientist to conduct research projects from start to finish. In March 2022, , a team of three students and a teacher from Hoffman Estates High School worked on a research project to determine the structure of silver-coated gold nanoparticles using Anomalous Small Angle X-ray Scattering mentored by Dr. Mrinal Bera, beamline scientist from NSF’s ChemMatCARS. Due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the research project from its inception to the experiments, analyses, and discussion were all organized virtually over ZOOM. Although virtual, the experience to work on a research project with school students has been an exciting and new learning experience for both the high school team and the NSF’s ChemMatCARS staff.
Pictur: Dr. Mrinal Bera (NSF’s ChemMatCARS) demonstrated how to prepare samples.