LIT to represent Ireland in EU programme aimed at redressing negative image of chemistry
‘Chemistry is All Around Us’ lifelong learning programme to find ways of gaining greater appreciation of central role of chemistry in our lives today
Limerick Institute of Technology will next month join ranks with institutes from six other EU countries to spearhead a programme aimed at de-stigmatising chemistry as a ‘problematic’ subject and breaking-down barriers to greater appreciation of it.
The 24 month ‘Chemistry is All Around Us’ project – funded under the European Commission’s Comenius Lifelong Learning Programme - will focus on tackling the negative image of the subject to encourage greater participation in life-long learning and, ultimately, increase the availability of third level graduates for the chemistry/science related industries, which remain key growth areas for Ireland.
LIT will be Ireland’s sole representation on the programme, sharing in a €600,000 fund with institutes from Germany, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and Turkey to carry out their research. Under the project, LIT will partner with five second level schools - St. Caimans Community School, Shannon; Ard Scoil Ris, Limerick; Hazelwood College Dromcolliher; Gaelcolaiste Luimnigh and Tallaght Community School, Dublin – to research, and introduce, measures aimed at breaking down misconceptions about chemistry.
Said Marie Walsh Lecturer, Department of Applied Science at LIT, “Chemistry has got a lot of bad press in recent times but it is impossible to imagine a world without modern materials, including medicines, detergents, etc. In fact, all living processes are chemical reactions and everything we use, wear, live in, ride in and play with is produced through controlled chemical reactions.
“What this programme is about is de-stigmatising chemistry so that people truly appreciate the absolutely central and positive role it plays in our lives today. We want to increase lifelong learning in the subject and there are many benefits that can arise from this, including, and not least, helping to address the inadequate supply of graduates here in Ireland for chemistry and science related industries.
“A recent survey of Ireland’s life science sector by PharmaChemical Ireland (PCI) found that nine out of ten companies believe science should be compulsory for Junior Certificate Students. What PCI says needs to be taken on board as it is the representative body for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry in Ireland, which already generates over 50pc of Irish exports, employs more than 50,000 people and contributes over €3bn in tax to the State.
“It’s clear that to ensure that the life science sector here is optimally positioned to grow and continue to create high-quality jobs, we need more school leavers pursuing maths, science and engineering at third level. One of the road blocks to this is at second level, however, where teachers may not have had the opportunity to take part in-service training to keep them up to date with current developments in their subjects..
“For example, nanochemistry is a topic in the proposed new leaving certificate chemistry syllabus and many teachers who graduated 15 years ago or more have no training in this whatsoever. Nanotechnology is going to be the first $Trillion market so we need to position ourselves to take advantage of this or else others will. This project we are now involved in will help identify what’s needed at second-level to help that happen.”
According to a report carried out with countries already participating in the programme, research with teachers and adult learners shows the “disastrous relationship between students and chemistry”. The ‘Promotion of Lifelong Learning of Scientific Subjects Challenges, Opportunities and Strategies Transnational Report’ states that the subject is unpopular also among adults who may associate chemistry with negative concepts such as pollution, not natural, poison and do not wish to improve their really poor, and often incorrect, knowledge. More specifically, partners describe very similar obstacles to lifelong learning of chemistry, including the following, which affect chemistry education in the partner countries to a greater or lesser extent:
· Chemistry has a bad image. Chemistry is associated with negative aspects of life and is considered as the antithesis of what is natural.
· Chemistry is considered a difficult subject because it makes use of difficult language microscopic and macroscopic level at the same time, mnemonic concepts, models and seems to be abstract.
· Chemistry teachers are sometimes not adequate. Many of them teaching chemistry at junior certificate level are not graduates of chemistry or some of them may not have attended a specific training necessary to ‘learn to teach’
· Text books are often too difficult
· Laboratory activities are absent or, in the best cases, sporadic or inadequate: lack of technical support for teachers is a constant issue.
· There is a lack of motivation. Students and adults think that chemistry is an abstract subject and do not manage to see its connection with everyday life. Moreover they sometimes are unaware of job opportunities for a chemist.
While LIT’s involvement in the programme will not commence until next month, the Transnational Report finds that the bad image of chemistry, often considered as a dangerous, abstract and difficult subject, can be improved. Strategies for achieving this include:
· Cooperation between Universities’ faculties of education and faculties of scientific subjects, the result of which should offer continuous in-service science teacher training to chemistry teachers
· There should be a better integration between Universities and schools
· Scientific research – and science teaching ‐ should have a better consideration in European society
· Events (e.g. science fairs, exhibitions etc) should be organized so as to make sciences more friendly for both children and their parents
Ireland is fortunate in that there are a number of research groups, organisations and associations around the country continuously working to promote chemistry and other sciences, through various events aimed at teachers, students and the general public. One aim of the Chemistry is all around us project is to better inform teachers about existing national and international resources and also facilitate the creation of new supports for science teaching.