BU Project GLACIER

	Jennifer Varela Degree Sought : Ph.D. Research Focus: School Name : Atlantic Middle School Teaching Partner: Michael Maguire Jennifer's Project GLACIER Site
Jennifer is a second year graduate student in the Chemistry department working under Professor Mark W. Grinstaff. She is studying room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL) as possible replacements for conventional carbonate based electrolytes in Lithium Ion batteries. The need to replace current electrolytes arrives from the safety issues associated with carbonates based electrolytes, namely, their flammability and volatility. As such, ionic liquids are interesting molecules in the energy storage field due to their low flammability and low volatility.
Jennifer is partnered with Michael Maguire who teaches 6th grade at Atlantic Middle School in Quincy. Together, Michael and Jennifer will work to incorporate Global change into five distinct learning units; SI units, Earth�s place in space, Chemistry in the Environment, Changing Earth, and Cells Life. Moreover, Jennifer and Michael also plan on increasing scientific literacy, communication, and interest by incorporating Jennifer�s current and past research into classroom activities.