Preliminary R e p o r t
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION IN CHEMISTRY July 20-24,1970 Snowmass-at-Aspen, Colorado
Sponsored by:
DIVISION OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION American Chemical Society as p a r t of t h e Golden Anniversary celebration of the founding of the division
In collaboration with the Committee on t h e Teaching of Chemistry of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
Volume 48, Number 1 , January 7 971
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lntroduction from the Chairman The papers thot follow constitute a report o f recent discussions o f the problems ond possibilities for chemicol educotion in the 1970's. A mojor contribution t o these discussions wos a three-day conference in July held ot Snowmoss-ot-Aspen, Colorado. Further discussions hove since been held as a moior port o f the meetings o f the American Chemicol Society held in Chicago during September 1 9 7 0 . The Division of Chemicol Education o f the American Chemicol Society is delighted t o have hod a hand in orgoniring these discussions. Plonnina for the July conference b e a m in the Division o r earlv o r 1968. At that time it wos onreed that the state of chemical educotionwas not entirely good and something should b e done ttossess and improve the situotion. In the early discussion of conference plans one feature was ~ o r t i c u l o r l vem~hasized. Among chemists themselves, there wos wide disagreement about education. ~ d s noticeable t was d i s o & n e n t beh;een mony chemisf; whose principle concern lies in research activity and those whose principle concerns ore with the teaching o f chemistry. Disagreements among these two groups con have significant effects on the distribution o f funds ond on the opinions of those outside the profession. Therefore, a conference was proposed t o bring together chemists from research and from teaching. It was olso thought wise to include in the conference chemists from industry and government as well 0s from the vorious levels o f the educatioml enterprise. From the first, the conference was thought o f or intermtionol in scope ond porticipotion. Many o f the problems ore not provinciol but world-wide. Also, there exists o wider voriety of attempted solutions in the world thon those thot hove hoppened t o orise within the United States alone. The hope war thot this somewhot diverse group could produce o set o f analytical statements and recommendations for action. W i t h these in hond, next steps t o take could be more opporent o r we enter the decode o f the seventies. Whether the hopes o f the Division ore realized will have t o await the actions token and the iudgments reached in the years ahead. Many people and orgonimtions contributed generously t o the vorious meetings. The Division is particularly aware o f these contributions from its porent body, the American Chemicol Society. At on early stage, the Boord o f the Society mode o substantial gmnt toward the expenses o f the Snowmass conference. Considerable staff time in the Notional O f f i c e o f the Society wos devoted to arrangements for the conference. W h o t may be most importont in the long run ore the orrongements mode by the Society t o feoture education discussions in the program o f the National Meeting this post September. Along with the substontiol ossistonce of the Society, others also were m o d helpful. Financiol grants were made by the Notional Science Foundotion, Research Corporation, ond the Petroleum Research Foundation. Generous omounts o f time were provided by a great many people t o whom the Division o f Chemicol Education owes much or o consequence. Now the discussions hove been held, recommendations mode, ond reports written. W h a t remains is the only importont toskimplementation. Con we develop sufficient skill t o communicate our understanding o f the significance o f chemical phenomeno in the world thot is our home? It is surely clear that chemicals have the potenfiolity t o make our lives miserable and short if we proceed in ignorance. But chemical phenomeno con contribute t o the good life if our compassion con harness our wits.
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Laurence E. Strong. Chairman Division of Chemical Education
CONTENTS lntroduction f r o m t h e Chairman Preface The S t r u c t u r e of Chemistry Graduate Education in Chemistry and Beyond Preparing Chemists t o M e e t Society's Future Needs Chemistry f o r Citizens International A s p e c t s of Chemical Education Plenary Addresses New Problems Need New Answers Education for Change 4
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Journal o f Chemicol Education
