Who We Are The goal of the C4 Project is to improve the learning of chemical concepts through the increased use of computer visualization. C4 produces and disseminates software to be used in chemistry and biology classrooms, both in colleges and high schools. The Project, funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, specializes in the design and educational use of molecular visualizations and animations. Many important chemical concepts are inherently abstract -- no one can see an electron or an atom or a molecule and no microscope can possibly make them visible. Furthermore, these particles are always in motion. Students often complain of their inability to grasp or "see" chemistry the way that chemists (or more successful students) do. Being able to visually experience at least part of what is a very abstract subject can lead a student to a positive sense of mastery and to increased confidence. C4 is producing scientifically accurate and visually compelling computer-generated images and animated movies of many important chemicals and processes. Molecules, ranging in size from water to DNA, are the first focus of the project. Computer images can bring molecules "alive" and readily show the sizes, shapes and reactions of hundreds of different compounds. These images are being combined with text, narration and interactive controls to create software tutorials that can be presented by teachers or run directly by students. The project team is headed by Harry Ungar, a college chemistry teacher with over 25 years of teaching experience. Working with Dr. Ungar is an Advisory Committee of college and high school chemistry, biology and computer science teachers. The software is being written by a team of undergraduate and graduate students, most of whom came through Dr. Ungar's course in organic chemistry. All C4 software will be distributed over the World Wide Web so that it will immediately be available to anyone interested in using it. All C4 software can be used and reproduced without cost, provided it is for a non-commercial purpose. There are currently several C4 software products available. The Chime Tutorial is an introduction to Chime, and is recommended viewing before using any of our other products. The Molecular Library is a library containing several hundred molecules and an interface for viewing and controlling them using Chime. Insulin: Structure of a Protein Hormone is a tutorial exploring the structure of the protein insulin. Staff Albion Baucom 2000 M.S. graduate in Computer Science, University of California, Santa Cruz Jesse Bentz 1999 M.A. graduate in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz Jason Camara Graduate student in Chemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz Slaton Lipscomb 1999 B.S. graduate in Chemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz Melissa Marcin Undergraduate student in Biochemistry, University of California, Berkeley Herb Toor Undergraduate student at Cabrillo College Faculty Associates Linda Calciano   Chemistry, Cabrillo College Dave Ptak   Chemistry, Santa Cruz High School Software Testing Karl Marhenke   Chemistry, Cabrillo College Contact Email  Please direct all official correspondence to Harry Ungar. U.S. Mail  Write to the address below.

C4: Computers in Chemistry at Cabrillo College Project Director: Harry Ungar Cabrillo College / 6500 Soquel Dr. / Aptos, CA 95003 Last Updated: 8/20/99    Webmaster: slaton@aptamer.com