Matthew Van Duzor’s most popular course is general chemistry and he also enjoys teaching environmental and physical chemistry.

Van Duzor embraces the opportunity to learn and share his findings with his students. “I have always been interested in understanding, on a fundamental level, why nature behaves as it does.” He especially appreciates how chemistry allows us to understand visible phenomena through the interactions and properties of submicroscopic particles.

In the classroom, his research experience helps him equip students with the skills necessary to conduct research in laboratory settings. He also emphasizes the importance of environmental stewardship, as understanding the relationships between chemical processes and environmental issues can lead to policy improvements.

He encourages students to explore outside of the classroom through collecting, preparing, and analyzing environmental samples. During some courses, his students have the chance to visit the Argonne National Laboratory and speak with chemists and engineers.

Van Duzor values the interactions he has with his students at North Park and encourages them to appreciate all that chemistry has to offer, “the analytical and critical thinking skills gained through studying chemistry would benefit a student in any career.”