With the coming of the new century, many opportunities and challenges are evolving for chemists. The necessity of developing new energy technologies will increase. As petroleum feed stocks dwindle, more efficient catalysts will have to be designed. Alternatives to combustion engines, such as solar and fuel cells, will require novel chemical strategies. Medical technology will have a pressing need for less invasive chemical sensors. Alternative drugs will be developed to treat disease. Approaches to environmental remediation will entail developments that span many areas of chemistry. A number of outstanding issues in atmospheric chemistry remain to be addressed, with critical implications for the global climate and environment. The chemistry of materials will continue to expand, providing materials of high strength, flexibility, and unique thermal, electrical and optical properties.

The Department of Chemistry at The University of Iowa is committed to providing its undergraduate students with the skills needed to comprehend and confront the scientific challenges of the new century. Our strong and vibrant undergraduate chemistry program is an environment where students can develop and ultimately find success in their chosen career paths. These web pages describe the undergraduate program in chemistry at The University of Iowa.