Chemical Education Today
ACS Presidential Election
Education Is the Future by Nancy B. Jackson
K–12 Education The addition of the Hach Foundation to the ACS has given us an unprecedented opportunity to have greater impact on the teaching of high school chemistry by supporting those wanting to teach chemistry and supporting innovative chemistry teachers. The impact that ACS has on students and their chemical education by supporting high school teachers is substantial and as ACS President I would actively support high school teachers and programs that benefit them. Undergraduate Education Research opportunities for undergraduate chemistry students are important for retaining students in chemistry. Even, and maybe even especially, freshmen should be given more opportunities to participate in research. I have had high school students and freshmen in my laboratory at Sandia and I know that a freshman takes much more time than a graduate student to supervise. However, this should not stop our community from bringing freshman in the lab. We could support undergraduate research by increasing the value, prestige, and opportunities for undergraduate research. How does the chemical community bestow prestige? Usually through awards and funding opportunities. Awards for undergraduate research mentors and funding specifically for supporting undergraduate researchers would be strongly advocated during my years in the ACS Presidential succession. Also supported would be the National Science Foundation programs that give undergraduates an opportunity to do summer research overseas. This program, the International REU program, is critical for preparing our students for the global 1170
work environment they will encounter in their careers. Expanding this program beyond Europe to Asia and other continents would be a goal I would actively help to enable. Learning to work in different cultures is a required skill for successful scientists in the global age. Graduate Education Nancy B. Jackson The challenges of the future are at the interfaces of scientific disciplines. This is true whether we are talking about the interface between analytical chemistry and biochemistry or the scientific and engineering disciplines needed to address new solar technologies. Graduate students need to be prepared for a career working at the interfaces and it is best for them to start in graduate school with their graduate studies. I would advocate for better support for professors who want to work at the interface of scientific disciplines and to collaborate with others from different disciplines. Multidisciplinary research should be recognized in the same way as traditional research with rewards including technical awards, funding opportunities, and promotion to tenure. Many state universities are struggling financially. Maintaining infrastructure and laboratories and a strong faculty are difficult during economically trying times. As ACS President, I would do all I could to advocate for the support of chemical and scientific education at our state universities. They are the bedrock of university education in America and it is imperative that we keep them strong. In conclusion, I ask for your vote. Chemical education is a crucial aspect of ACS’s charter and as President, I will support, improve, and advocate for science education. In addition, I will draw on the expertise of chemical educators for help in communicating to the public about chemistry and to make binding ties with our international colleagues during the International Year of Chemistry. Literature Cited (all sites accessed Jul 2009) 1. ACS Science Education Policies may be found at http://portal.acs. org/portal/PublicWebSite/policy/publicpolicies/invest/educationpolicies/WPCP_011527. 2. Available at http://portal.acs.org/portal/PublicWebSite/about/ governance/committees/education/CTP_004476.
Supporting JCE Online Material
http://www.jce.divched.org/Journal/Issues/2009/Oct/abs1170.html Abstract and keywords Full text (PDF) with links to cited URLs
Nancy B. Jackson is International Chemical Threat Reduction Department Manager, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87185;
[email protected]; www.nancyjackson.org.
Journal of Chemical Education • Vol. 86 No. 10 October 2009 • www.JCE.DivCHED.org • © Division of Chemical Education
photo: Kyle Zimmerman
The American Chemical Society is the ultimate champion of chemical education in the United States and provides an impressive amount of support, curriculum materials, policy recommendations, and leadership. The ACS Science Education Policy, 2007–2009 (1) gives an excellent summary of what chemical education needs to thrive and a more detailed discussion in Science Education Policies for Sustainable Reform (2) provides comprehensive guidelines to better science education. As President, I would be committed to advancing ACS science education programs and policies. Since we have all spent a great deal of time being educated ourselves, it is easy to think we are all experts in education. But I don’t believe that is true; science education and chemical education in particular are incredibly challenging subject matters. I earned my way through the first year of graduate school as an editorial assistant at the Journal of Chemical Education when Joe J. Lagowski was Editor at the University of Texas. I read every article that year. The wealth of knowledge and creativity of chemical educators is impressive. Chemical educators play a crucial role in ACS and I would, as President, call on educators not only for their obvious expertise in chemical education, but to give insight on how chemical scientists should and could be communicating with the general public and to play a pivotal role in the International Year of Chemistry of 2011.
