Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
09:55
Bridging the Technology Divide in the COVID-19 Era: Using Virtual Outreach to Expose Middle and High School Students to Imaging Technology
Published on: September 28, 2022
Viewpoint on the WebMO First 25 Years Symposium at the Fall 2025 ACS Meeting
Carl Salter1, James B Foresman2, J R Schmidt3
1Department of Chemistry, Moravian University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 18018, United States.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. A
|August 6, 2026
Summary
WebMO, a web-based interface for computational chemistry, has significantly lowered access barriers in education and research. It enables broader use of computational tools for teaching, research, and collaboration.
Area of Science:
- Computational Chemistry
- Chemical Education
- Scientific Software
Background:
- Computational chemistry is vital for understanding chemical phenomena but faces access and cost barriers.
- Widespread adoption in education and research has been limited by technical challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize perspectives on WebMO's impact over 25 years.
- To explore WebMO's role in computational chemistry education and research.
- To discuss future directions and collaborations.
Main Methods:
- A review of 19 speakers' experiences at an ACS Symposium.
- Analysis of WebMO's influence on computational chemistry delivery.
- Exploration of WebMO's features and potential.
Main Results:
- WebMO has democratized access to computational chemistry tools.
- It facilitates teaching chemical concepts and explaining experimental results.
- WebMO serves as a platform for collaboration and sharing research.
Conclusions:
- WebMO has been instrumental in overcoming barriers to computational chemistry.
- It enhances educational experiences and enables research projects.
- Future development includes software interconnectivity and expanded applications.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Vision
Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.
01:16Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy
Confocal microscopy is an advanced microscopic technique. The prime advantage of the confocal microscope over other microscopy techniques is its ability to block the out-of-focus light from the illuminated samples using pinholes. It is widely used with fluorescence optics to obtain high-resolution, sharp contrast images. Unlike optical microscopes, confocal microscopes use a focused beam of light laser to scan the entire sample surface at different z-planes. These microscopes are, therefore,...
01:34Fluid Mosaic Model
The fluid mosaic model was first proposed as a visual representation of research observations. The model comprises the composition and dynamics of membranes and serves as a foundation for future membrane-related studies. The model depicts the structure of the plasma membrane with a variety of components, which include phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. These integral molecules are loosely bound, defining the cell’s border and providing fluidity for optimal function.LipidsThe most...
01:18Electron Orbital Model
Orbitals are the areas outside of the atomic nucleus where electrons are most likely to reside. They are characterized by different energy levels, shapes, and three-dimensional orientations. The location of electrons is described most generally by a shell or principal energy level, then by a subshell within each shell, and finally, by individual orbitals found within the subshells.The first shell is closest to the nucleus, and it has only one subshell with a single spherical orbital called the...
01:18Molecular Shapes
Molecules have characteristic shapes that are crucial for their function. The arrangement of various electron groups around the central atom dictates their molecular geometry. Electron pairs in the valence shell of a central atom will adopt an arrangement that minimizes repulsions between the electron pairs by maximizing the distance between them. The valence electrons form either bonding pairs, located primarily between bonded atoms, or lone pairs.Two regions of electron density in a diatomic...