Chemical Education Today
ACS Presidential Election
Statement on Education—Moving Forward Together by Eli M. Pearce
Who am I (for more details see http://www.elipearce.org)? •
An extensive and diverse background in education, industry, and with government.
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The recipient of a number of awards and honors in education and research.
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Direct involvement in educational development: K–12, undergraduate, graduate, and extension courses.
Education Is Our Future We live in a rapidly changing world dependent on the understanding and wise use of science and technology. Chemistry is central to this—and the ACS is and must be centrally involved at all educational levels with students, teachers, and the public. Driving developments are the rapid growth in electronic information technology, globalization, and interdisciplinarity requiring partnering with other disciplines.
Information Technology (IT) and Communications The ACS crown jewels are publications and chemical abstracts. We should make large investments in IT—people and equipment. This will provide for synergistic investments in educational development and delivery utilizing our established facilities and know-how to bring the excitement of chemistry in new forms and networks to a diverse population—encouraging educators to experiment and communicate with each other easily. Globalization “Global”—not only defined in geographic terms but more inclusive—includes interdisciplinarity (e.g. with biology, materials science, engineering), and interactions between industry, academia and government. This provides new educational opportunities for chemistry and its challenge to explain and meet worldwide challenges. Partnering with Other Professional Organizations We must explore multiprong efforts with other scientific societies. Broader scientific knowledge is the future and ACS must lead. To do this we must redefine chemistry— “chemistry is…what chemists do”—and integrate the chemistry curriculum to reflect the role of the modern chemist and its centrality in the changing workplace. In all important areas of technology, Chemistry has played a key role! The public, educators, and students, must be made more aware of this! Moving Forward at All Levels
K–12 All students should receive a comprehensive science education built on an experiential basis. Scientific literacy is required for an adequate future pool of scientists and enlightened citizens having to make knowledgeable decisions about
the use of technologies. We must actively participate with educators in developing standards and materials and be a stronger advocate for increased science educational investment by government, industry, and the profession. My contributions in this regard were recently recognized by the Oscar Foster Award of the Chemistry Teachers Club of New York.
College and University Education The days are long past when a well-educated student should graduate without a meaningful exposure to chemistry and its interactions with science and society. Among the challenges are the attractive and active Web-based delivery of science to entice college-level students. The ACS should be at the forefront of doing this. The Committee on Professional Training (CPT) must be more inclusive in regard to interdisciplinary programs. (I was a CPT member and also received the Polymer Division Paul J. Flory Award in Polymer Education and the Society of Plastics Engineers International Education Award). CPT must take a strong position in regard to the budgetary use of part-time faculty which are not based on firm educational reasoning. The modern curriculum requires more faculty student interactions and not less. Post-Formal Education Lifetime learning is increasingly important in this rapidly changing world. The ACS must expand its extension courses utilizing the latest in information technology for the rapid transmission of the most up-to-date courses in chemistry and the interdisciplines on a member-affordable basis. The ability of chemists to be kept up to date relates increasingly to future job security. I have co-directed and taught for over 20 years in extension courses. In Conclusion… •
The ACS must continue to expand its educational efforts in all aspects. This should be done cooperatively with educators and with other scientific disciplines.
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As leaders in electronic information technology, ACS must develop leading-edge educational technology available to all. It is an essential component for public understanding and attracting diverse and intelligent youth to science.
Eli M. Pearce is University Research Professor at the Polytechnic University, 6 Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201;
[email protected]; http://www.elipearce.org.
JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu • Vol. 77 No. 9 September 2000 • Journal of Chemical Education
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