Fabrication of Chromatographic Devices for Screening Cosmetics for Hydroquinone and Retinoic Acid as a Chemistry Project To Connect with the Community

This article demonstrates how a student research project could connect classroom and community. Using local citizens’ concerns about the adulteration of cosmetics by prohibited substances as a research problem, fifth-year pharmaceutical chemistry students were challenged to use their knowledge to cr...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical education 2016-11, Vol.93 (11), p.1894-1899
Main Authors: Rojanarata, Theerasak, Waewsa-nga, Kwanrutai, Muangchang, Thanawit, Ratanakreethakul, Pudinan, Plianwong, Samarwadee, Winotapun, Weerapath, Opanasopit, Praneet, Ngawhirunpat, Tanasait
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acids
Chemistry
Chromatography
College Science
College Students
Community involvement
Community relations
Community service
Cosmetics
Cosmetology
Fabrication
Foreign Countries
Hydroquinone
Knowledge management
Laboratory Experiments
Organic chemistry
Pharmaceutical Education
Problem Solving
Program evaluation
Program Implementation
Research Problems
Retinoic acid
Science and Society
Science education
Screening
Skin
Student Developed Materials
Student Projects
Student Research
Students
Technology Transfer
Thailand
Undergraduate Students
Work Experience
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This article demonstrates how a student research project could connect classroom and community. Using local citizens’ concerns about the adulteration of cosmetics by prohibited substances as a research problem, fifth-year pharmaceutical chemistry students were challenged to use their knowledge to create cost-effective and environmentally friendly chromatographic devices from easily obtainable materials. After validation of the procedure, the devices were utilized for screening skin-whitening and antiwrinkle cosmetic samples submitted to the faculty through the community service program for the screening of hydroquinone and retinoic acid. Coactivities such as delivery of health education to the community and program evaluation were also conducted by students to promote their community engagement and work experience in a real-world context. Furthermore, the knowledge gained from the project was passed on to younger students to illustrate in lectures and stimulate their interest in chemistry. The project was well-received and considered useful by the community since it addressed the real needs of the people, thereby helping to cross the line between the academic world and the real world and foster relationships between the university and the community.
ISSN:0021-9584
1938-1328
DOI:10.1021/acs.jchemed.6b00272