CFCC Chemical Technology program awarded National Science Foundation grant

Wilmington, NC – Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) is excited to announce that they have been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation. The grant, spearheaded by the Institute of Future Intelligence (IFI), positions CFCC as a key partner alongside two other prominent community colleges – City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College and Arizona Western College. Together they will work to create, implement, and evaluate new ideas using advanced thermal imaging technology to see chemical and physical changes.

The primary objective of this initiative is to develop a cost-effective portable device that can seamlessly integrate into classroom settings, enhancing student learning and laboratory teaching within the domain of general chemistry and organic chemistry courses. Tracy Holbrook, Chemical Technical Program Director at CFCC, is one of three co-principal Investigators leading this innovative project.

“This grant opens the door to so many new educational possibilities for our students and staff,” said Holbrook. “By pioneering the use of thermal imaging technology in our classroom, we’re not just teaching science; we’re shaping the future of how students engage with it. This collaborative effort reinforces our program’s commitment to providing an innovative and impactful learning experience.”

At the heart of the project lies the creation and testing of laboratory experiments. Once completed, these experiments will be extended to five additional community colleges nationwide to serve as field testing sites.