In his elements

He's bright, good looking and imbued with an engaging personality. He's also the teacher of the year at the University of Central Arkansas -- Patrick Desrochers, this cheery associate professor of chemistry.

A panel of faculty saw in the 36-year-old chemist a certain pizzazz that stamps him as a winner, a teacher brimming over with enthusiasm for his work -- "chemistry is a subject I love."

His mantra is wrapped up in the hope that his students gain from his class a better appreciation for chemistry and its connections to the world around them.

"I want this appreciation to be based on the fact that an understanding of chemistry feeds people's curiosity about the natural world."

He takes a realistic view of chemistry, understanding that the discipline is considered by the public to be odd and mystical, leading some to dismiss the subject as too hard to want to understand.

But he attempts to make the subject digestible and encourages his students to learn the subject for use outside the walls of Laney Hall.

As for himself, he feels the love of subject is the most important quality to make for an effective teacher.

"I see myself as an amalgam of my favorite teachers. If I have been an effective teacher, it is because I have been able to share my enthusiasm for my discipline. If a teacher is not excited about the subject, how can his students be? I like to marvel with students at emerging discoveries ... like spider silk from goat's milk and cars that run on water. Real science is done by ordinary people with enough curiosity and drive to do extraordinary things."

He is honest to a fault, saying things like students don't need a teacher to learn chemistry. It can be learned by careful reading of a textbook. But he deviates a little from that thesis when he says he provides personalized guidance that a book can't.

A student who seeks anonymity to keep from prejudicing his grades says this of Desrochers:

"He is always available to help and has always gone out of his way to make sure I understand things. He never cuts a student short in class and answers questions on the spot."

"He is very good about making sure the class understands what's going on," says another.

And one more: "He's probably the most approachable professor I have had at UCA. He establishes a respect between himself and his students, which creates a situation in which students feel comfortable coming to him with any question they may have."

Desrochers, a Midwesterner by birth, attended California State University in Sacramento where he earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry in l987. He later studied at the University of Arizona and earned a doctorate in inorganic chemistry in 1992. He came to UCA 10 years ago and became an associate professor of chemistry in August.

He has authored several manuscripts and made formal presentations on research in chemistry, particularly with the element nickel. Several works have cited his research with nickel.

As for the Teacher of the Year award, Desrochers says: "It is a thrill to be recognized for doing something I truly enjoy, teaching chemistry. Every day I have the opportunity to share my enthusiasm for the subject."

But he wonders if his enthusiasm will be sustained over the years, as he asks questions of himself: Where do I see myself as a teacher in 10 to 15 years? Will I still be excited about chemistry? Will I have perfect class notes by then? Will I still be challenged to develop clearer lectures and better explanations?

On the basis of his accomplishments thus far, there is little fear that his interest will be diminished with the passing of time.

"I have been in chemistry academics for 15 years already, and my appreciation for chemistry continues to grow," he says.

He points out that his research and scholarly activity challenges him as a chemist. The research program that he established and operated at UCA is one of the proudest achievements of his career. It is, he said, in a research area dominated by large research groups with more extensive resources of both time and money.

"However, the properly constructed synthetic systems developed in my laboratory still make valuable contributions to this science," he said, adding that testimony of the quality of the work from his research group are a recent publication, "Inorganic Chemistry," and two years of funding awarded by the nationally competitive Petroleum Research Fund.

"Most satisfying to me was the fact that my (Petroleum Research Fund) proposal was reviewed by scientists internationally recognized for their work in this area."

Away from his classroom and lab, Desrochers revels in working with wood, making such ordinary objects as cabinets and other kinds of furniture.

"I love it," he says with the same kind of boyish enthusiasm that carries over into his classroom.

Desrochers' wife, Linda, is a chemist in her own right. But she prefers to be a stay-at-home mom, shepherding the activities of daughters Claire, 11, and Marie, 9, and son David, 4.

Desrochers says the written student evaluations indicate that his classes are "interesting, relevant, humorous, challenging, sometimes organized and sometimes disorganized. I am probably a little naive in assuming that I can convince every student to appreciate chemistry. But this remains my motivation to continually improve the way I teach."

(Staff writer Fred Petrucelli can be reached by phone at 505-1256.)