Chemical Education Today
ACS Presidential Election
Statement on Education— Planning Together Today to Meet Tomorrow’s Challenges by Elsa Reichmanis
One of the most important activities of the American Chemical Society relates to education: graduate education, education at the undergraduate college level, and education at the K–12 level. As we are all aware, the chemical enterprise has changed dramatically in recent years! Our society is increasingly dependent on advancements in science and technology, and concomitant with that dependence is the requirement for improved understanding of science- and technology-related issues. Further, the chemical sciences (chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science) are key enablers of the many advances we see today. While chemistry and chemical engineering have always been evolving, in recent years the rate of change has accelerated; and I am certain that this acceleration will persist. We must continue to ensure that graduate education at the doctoral level continues to provide students with the opportunity to engage in creative chemical sciences research. At the same time, we must recognize that research is increasingly moving towards multidisciplinary approaches to solve problems. Chemists work with physicists and biologists, and electrical or mechanical engineers, or computer scientists and device engineers to arrive at unique solutions to technologically significant problems. The education our students receive must address the multidisciplinary nature of today’s research and development endeavors and students should be encouraged to recognize the broad applicability and impact of the chemical sciences. Coupled with broadened exposure to technology-related issues, students should also be encouraged to explore other areas such as economics, management, ethics, and communication. One of the most exciting opportunities for the ACS to have an even greater impact on scientific education and research, at both the undergraduate and graduate level, is through the restructured American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund (ACS PRF). Recent actions by the ACS Board of Directors have increased the amount of ACS PRF grants by over 33%. Although the ACS PRF is tasked with funding “advanced scientific education and fundamental research in the petroleum field”, grants have historically been made to individuals working at interdisciplinary boundaries including chemical and materials engineering, polymers, solid-state physics, and the earth sciences. I believe additional opportunities for students at colleges and universities to conduct fundamental research as part of their educational experience strengthens their problem-solving skills and better prepares them to address the technology challenges of the future. Another area that is of critical importance to both undergraduate and graduate education relates to mentoring
and career guidance of students throughout their college/university experience. We must do a better job of preparing our students for the future. Coupled with these mentoring activities is the development of programs to effectively attract and retain underrepresented populations into science and engineering in general, and the chemical sciences in particular. I believe strongly that diversity is a top priority. As a mother of young children, I have enjoyed the excitement my children experience whenever they have an opportunity to learn by doing. Their enthusiasm for learning is infectious as they begin to see the connections between science and their everyday life. In order to maintain interest and increase understanding, it is critical that the ACS maintain its commitment to hands-on learning through both formal and informal channels. ACS continues to lead in the area of high school chemistry curriculum development, and we must identify additional ways to engage elementary school children in the understanding of the integral role science plays in the world around them. Also of prime importance is the issue of informal science education for both our local communities and the nation at large. The public image of chemistry continues to need improvement. The general public must be made aware that it was chemists and chemical engineers who developed new drug therapies that have revolutionized modern medicine; and few individuals appreciate the important role chemistry has played in the development of electronic devices and displays. I support the continuing efforts of the ACS Education Division and Office of Communications to ensure a better-informed general public. It is therefore imperative that the American Chemical Society continue to initiate new programs that will help meet the challenges of the 21st century. Fundamentally, the ACS not only is, but must be involved in the education of students, teachers, and the general public. For more information visit www.elsareichmanis.net. Elsa Reichmanis is a chemist and Director of Advanced Materials Integration Research at Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, 600 Mountain Avenue, 1D-260, Murray Hill, NJ 07974; phone: 908/582-2504; fax: 908/582-4868; email:
[email protected].
JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu • Vol. 78 No. 9 September 2001 • Journal of Chemical Education
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