Ronald Ragsdale received his PhD in inorganic chemistry from the University of Illinois – Champaign-Urbana. He left graduate school to work for three years in a New Jersey based industry. Next he embarked upon a 49-year career in research and teaching at the University of Utah. Fifteen years after arriving at the U, Ron decided to specialize in chemical education. He and his associates have authored more than 100 publications in research and education.
Ragsdale Lectures:
Vicente Talanquer, University of Arizona – What does it take to develop Chemical Thinking? – 2018
Thomas Greenbowe, University of Oregon – Strategies for Helping Students To Be Successful in Their General Chemistry Course – 2017
Jack Barbera, Portland State University – How Do We Know What Students Know? The Development and Evaluation of a Concept Inventory – 2016
Roy Tasker, University of Western Sydney – Visualisation of the Molecular World for a Deeper Understanding of Chemistry – 2015
Ilka Parchmann, IPN – Leibniz-Institut für die Pädagogik der Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik – Identifying and Understanding Structure-Property-Relations: Theoretical Considerations and Empirical Studies – 2014
Konrad J. Schonborn, Linkopings University in Sweden – Visualizing, Prodding and Pulling Molecules: Cognitive and Learning Dimensions of Students’ Immersive Interactions with Virtual Environments – 2013
Saundra McGuire, Louisiana State University – Get Chemistry Students to Focus on Learning Instead of Grades: Teach Them How to Learn – 2012
The Ragsdale Endowed Scholarship
The Ronald and Eileen Ragsdale Chemistry Scholarship Endowment was established in 2014 and will provide funds each year to assist both chemistry and chemical education students with their academic expenses. As a unique component of this scholarship, recipients must design, carry out, and report on a scholarly research project under the guidance of a faculty member. This scholarship program provides a unique experience for chemistry majors, introducing them to independent research at an early stage in their career.
To donate to the Ragsdale Endowed Scholarship, please note in Special Instructions: “Ragsdale Endowed Scholarship 14787-40165”