Breaking the Recipe: Preparation Through Research-Driven Experiences

Special topics laboratories, particularly those structured as Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs), offer a powerful alternative to traditional cookbook-style chemistry laboratories. This manuscript argues that inquiry-based laboratory courses operate as intentional learning communities in which students navigate uncertainty together, and that for future science educators and aspiring researchers, the confidence developed through authentic research is essential for modeling scientific reasoning. This mixed-methods study evaluated the professional growth of pre-service science teachers and undergraduate Honors chemistry students in a CURE. This approach integrated quantitative survey data with qualitative written reflections to provide a holistic view of student development within an authentic research setting. Results show that by emphasizing shared purpose and authentic experiences, inquiry-driven laboratories both prepare and equip students in the understanding and instruction of the chemical sciences as a collaborative scientific practice.