Development and implementation of a series of laboratory field trips for advanced high school students to connect chemistry to sustainability

We describe the content and organization of a series of day-long field trips to a university for high school students that connect chemistry content to issues of sustainability. The seven laboratory activities are in the areas of environmental degradation, energy production, and green chemistry. The laboratory procedures have been modified from published procedures so that the length and scope would be appropriate for our format and audience (AP and college preparatory chemistry and environmental science students). While students spend the majority of their time at the university in the laboratory, connections between the chemistry content and sustainability are highlighted in the previsit reading assignments, prelab discussion, and postlab small group discussion. Results of formative assessment are presented, as are considerations for other institutions that may be interested in developing and maintaining a similar program.