SOCIETY FOR CHEMICAL EDUCATION
Golden Jubilee of Chemistry Dept. 2005
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SOCIETY FOR CHEMICAL EDUCATION Golden Jubilee of Chemistry Dept. 2005
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CHEMICAL LITERACY MISSION In
21st century all citizens of the world will need chemical knowledge to improve quality of life.
Knowledge of chemistry was acquired by the people from the time
when they used fire. Ancient people practiced chemistry without knowing
that they were performing chemical experiments. Chemistry touches human life at any time. It deals
with matter from smallest atoms to complex living organisms. Chemistry has entered into all
scientific disciplines. Biochemistry is the application of chemical
processes in life. Chemistry
has emerged not only as a distinct discipline in science but it has become a part of our
cultural environment. The vital and dramatic advances in chemistry have been developed and innovated
mostly in the second half of twentieth century, although chemical techniques were profitably and
elegantly used in ancient times. Chemistry is everywhere in our day to life. In fact all common
laboratory techniques are used in the kitchen. Even the modest kitchen is the storehouse of some of
the most important classes of chemical compounds. Common chemical reactions take place in the
kitchen. If the chemistry in the kitchen is understood, a person can become a reasonably good
chemist. The children may be taught chemistry in the kitchen most effectively. The Children between the ages of six and sixteen in the world are more than 250
millions. And about 130 millions are entering primary schools every year. After school education
only a minority continue study at the higher level, while the majority search or get jobs of all
sorts and become a vital new force in all walks of life. In fact this population composes the main
body of mankind. In order to enhance the quality of life of these people, the primary education
should be geared to the needs of the majority of students. So in working out the details of
educational reform, the orientation should be to make these children competent to acquire skills for
increasing productivity thereby increasing quality of life for them. Hence all innovations in
education should focus on this target group of children. , CHEMICAL LITERACY MISSION IN ASSAM ABSTRACT:
In 21st century all citizens of the world will need chemical knowledge to improve quality of life. Knowledge of chemistry was acquired by the people from the time when they used fire. Ancient people practiced chemistry without knowing that they were performing chemical experiments. Chemistry touches human life at any time. It deals with matter from smallest atoms to complex living organisms. Chemistry has entered into all scientific disciplines. Biochemistry is the application of chemical processes in life. Although technology arose long before science including chemical science, people did not understand the theoretical basis of technology in ancient times. Primitive man cooked food, baked pottery, and smelted ores to make metals useful to them. They made beer and wine without knowing about fermentation. These are the l innovations in biotechnology of ancient world. Now to meet the needs of ever increasing population in the globe chemists will have to accept the challenges of food, clothing and shelter for all people from natural and man made materials of all kinds. .Basic knowledge of this all pervading discipline will be essential for all citizens of the world. Special emphasis will have to be made in the primary stages in schools. In Assam, Society for Chemical Education is popularizing chemistry to make the people chemically literate from its establishment in 1990.It has established a network through the colleges by establishing branches. The teachers of science and chemistry from primary to higher secondary levels are involved in chemical literacy mission. The activities will be expanded and made much more useful to improve quality of life of people in the 21st century under Project 2000+2 of UNEsCO.
Chemistry has emerged not only as a distinct discipline in science but it has become a part of our cultural environment. The vital and dramatic advances in chemistry have been developed and innovated mostly in the second half of twentieth century, although chemical techniques were profitably and elegantly used in ancient times. Chemistry is everywhere in our day to life. In fact all common laboratory techniques are used in the kitchen. Even the modest kitchen is the storehouse of some of the most important classes of chemical compounds.Common chemical reactions take place in the kitchen. If the chemistry in the kitchen is understood, a person can become a reasonably good chemist. The children may be taught chemistry in the kitchen most effectively. The children between the ages of six and sixteen in the world are more than 25 crores. And about thirteen crores are entering primary schools every year. After school education only a minority continue study at the higher level, while the majority search or get jobs of all sorts and become a vital new force in all walks of life. In fact this population composes the main body of mankind. In order to enhance the quality of life of these people, the primary education should be geared to the needs of the majority of students. So in working out the details of educational reform, the orientation should be to make these children competent to acquire skills for increasing productivity thereby increasing quality of life for them. Hence all innovations in education should focus on this target group of children.
CHEMISTRY EDUCATION
Teaching of chemistry should be an integral organic part of schooling. To improve mankind’s quality in culture, science, and technology, especially the quality of life of teenagers who will soon be working, a basic knowledge of chemistry is absolutely necessary. In fact, even citizens, not only who aspire to continue study in higher education, should learn chemistry. To achieve this goal, the school periods in chemistry in a week should be increased. To make teaching of chemistry purposeful and worthy of learning the mindset of the teachers should be changed.
Language and mathematics are also important in school curriculum. But chemistry is also important in life. Hence emphasis should be laid on teaching chemistry at schools. Content of the of courses should be such as to make the students aware about chemistry and hazards of chemical substances in their uses and disposals. Air, water and soil pollution, use of polymeric materials, harmful effects of fertilizers and pesticides for plants and animals should form the content of curriculum intelligible to all. Survival of the human race is dependent on understanding the implications of harmful effects of misuse of chemical products. While improving standards of living of people, more awareness should be generated in these areas through knowledge and basics of chemistry. Number of experiments in school chemistry should be enough to have impact on understanding of chemistry, its usefulness and harmful effects of chemical substances. For example sulphuric acid, H2S, mercury in thermometer and lead should not be allowed in chemical laboratories of educational institutions The teachers should find out alternatives for these chemicals or avoid experiments using them.. We are still using DDT in India which is abandoned as a harmful chemical in the developed world a few decades back. To become aware of disposals of chemicals and other wastes of industries, there are lots of rules and regulations even in India. But our concern is not significant. We bother little about handling of chemicals even in research laboratories. All organic chemicals like chloroform, acetone, benzene are no longer permissible for use in laboratories without precautions. Who bothers about safety in the chemical laboratory here in India? Put some sand buckets and unusable fire extinguishers nearby to fulfil the measures of safety. In order to make the citizens aware in all aspects of chemistry as referred to above, common knowledge in chemistry including the organic compounds and substances derived from them for domestic uses should be included in the courses in the different stages of school education also. The students should do as many practical experiments as possible. Experiments can be designed using chemicals from nature.
National Science Foundation, U.S.A. recently has emphasized learning chemistry including organic substances through active learning methods. In an editorial in Journal of Chemical Education it is stated: 'Teachers of chemistry have a greater role to play to make chemistry attractive to the learners. The teachers should make them better students not just in the classrooms but to make them chemists outside the class rooms.'
CHEMISTRY AND MATERIALS
To make the people aware of proper use of chemicals and materials for sustainable development in 21st century, the following areas need emphasis on class rooms and in general:
q Importance and uses of medicinal plants q Information technology and its applications in chemistry q Renewable energy as a source of alternative energy q Futurology for regional development and planning in relation to chemistry for human development q Vision 2020 for chemical literacy
ACTIVITIES
q Observance of Science Day of NCSTC, DST, Govt. of India. q Environmental awareness program q Application of chemistry for sustainable development ? Participation and organization of teachers' training programmes q Chemical literacy for citizens
To fulfill the aims and objectives of the Society already nine branches are being established in the colleges of different localities in Assam. This year branches in all the forty colleges having three year degree courses in Assam will be established. These branches will have Management Councils with members as follows: (a) President (b) Vice Presidents (a) General Secretary (c) Joint Secretaries (d) Treasurer (e) Local auditor (f) Members- teachers from the college, local higher secondary schools, high schools, secondary schools, primary schools, retired teachers, industrialists, social activists or any other member the Society considers important for fulfilling the objectives in a local perspective.
PUBLICATIONS:
CHEMISTRY EDUCATION:
Besides opening of branches in local areas the Society has published a journal- Tezpur, Dist.Sonitpur, Assam)
Other members:
Prof.Krishna Gopal Bhattacharyya (Department of Chemistry, Gauhati University, Assam) Sri Hitesh Barman (Department of Chemistry, Rangia College, Rangia, Dist.Kamrup) Dr.Krishna Gopal Sarma (Department of Chemistry, Dibrugarh University) Dr.Chandra Sekhar Sarma, Natural Products Chemistry Division, Regional Research Laboratory) Dr.Prahash Chandra Sarma (Department of Chemistry, Cotton College, Guwahati, Assam) Dr.Kulendra Mishra (Department of Chemistry, M.C.College, Barpeta, Assam)
Dr.Joydeep Barua (Scientist, Assam Science,Technology and Environmental Council, Guwahati, Assam) Dr.Anup Kumar Talukdar (Department of Chemistry, Gauhati University, Assam)
Note to the contributors: The journal emphasizes popularization of chemistry to make it useful for all citizens fulfilling the objectives of UNECO under Project 2002+. More over articles on concepts and applications of chemistry for students from primary to graduate levels are published. Both full length articles and short communicationsons on chemical sciences including biochemistry, biotechnology, agricultural and soil chemistry, food techmology and chemistry, bioinformatics, green chemistry and newly emerging areas are welcome.
Th journal will give priority to articles on education in chemistry in teaching methology and innovations in laboratory courses.
TEXT BOOKS: The Society has initiated publication of text books in Assamese. Six text books- two for higher secondary levels and four for three year degree courses of Gauhati and Dibrugarh Universities are published so far. Emphasis has been laid on making the books useful for self study and self evaluation. The authors are teachers from the universities of Assam.
BOOKS ON POPULARIZATION OF CHEMISTRY:
Moreover popular science books on chemistry are published. So far five books are published. They are-
(i) Asomar Bonousodhi ( Medicinal plants of Assam) (ii) Rasayanar Pancha Ratna ( Five eminent chemists of India ) (iii) Prithibir Amulya Sampad Pani ( Water-a valuable resource of the world) (iv) Saktir Bikalpa Utsa (Sources of Alternative Energy ) (v) Renewable Energy Today ( in English ) (vi) Abarjanar Para Saampad (Wealth from Waste) (vii) Manab Sewat Bignan (Science in Social Welfare)
. The teachers and the students are encouraged to write articles on recent trends in chemical and related disciplines of biosciences as applicable to chemistry.
INTERACTIONS WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
The Society has interactions with Assam Science Society, Assam Science, Technology and Environment Council, American Chemical Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, Chemical Industry Education Centre (University of York, Yorkshire) and Merrimack College, Andover, U.S.A. for Micro Scale Laboratory ). The former president of the Society presented papers in three International Conferences on chemical education to highlight the innovations and reforms in chemical education in Assam by revising curriculum for secondary, higher secondary and college levels with a view to upgrading and modernizing post gradate level curriculum in the universities of Assam subsequently.
TRAINING OF TEACHERS:.
Tthe Society undertook training of teachers of chemistry for higher secondary schools. The Society and its branches organize teaching programmes in the schools and the colleges of Assam. The teachers training programmes are so far sponsored by Assam Higher Secondary Education Council. Two training programmes are being organized so far in 1993 and 2001by the Society.. The teachers in chemistry from higher secondary schools of Assam participate in the course. The course in general covers the syllabus of higher secondary of Assam Hihgher Secondary Education Council. New areas including computer education in chemistry are also included. The resource persons are invited from the teachers of the university and the colleges of Assam. Teacher educators, evaluators and persons from industries are also invited.The topics covered in the training programme held from 31.05.2001 to 16.06.2001 are as follows:
!. Origin of elements 2. Atomic structure 3. Chemical bonding 4. Nuclear structure 4. Chemical thermodynamics 5. IUPAC nomenclature of inorganic and organic compounds 7. States of matter- gaseous and solid states 8.Chemical kinetics 9. Mole cocept 10. Stoicioemistry 11. Reactions of functional groups of organic compounds 12 Sterechemistry of organic compounds 13. Coordination compounds 14. Chemical eqilibrium 15. Acods and bases 16. Biomolecules-an elementary idea 17. Periodic tables and perdiocitiy of properties 18. Ionic equilibrium 20. Chemicals in medicine 21. Solving problem in organic chemistry 22. Oxidation and reduction 23. Redox potential and emf 24. Colligative properties 25. Environmental chemistry 26. Theories of quantitative and qualitative analysis 27. Information technology- its role in learning chemistry 28. Computer applications in chemistry 29. Drug abuse and its remedy 30 Food adulteration and its detection 31. Psychology of 16-18 age group of students 32. Talk on “ How to make teaching and learning chemistry more interesting?” 33. Problems faced in teaching and learning 34. Methods of teaching science 35. Evaluation and assessment 36. Adminsrtative problems of running higher secondart classes in degree colleges 37. How to motivate H.S students to appear in various competitive examinations 38. Critical analysis of higher secondary syllabus Demonstration micro-. Semimicro and spectroscopic analysis 4o. Theory of colour.
SMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES The Society also organizes national and regional seminars independently or in collaboration with one of the colleges, university department and other organizations. The following seminars have been organized: 1.The seminar on futurology on regional development and planning at Biswanath College, Dist Sonitpur, Assam in collaboration with the Biswanath Chariali branch of Assam Science Society (1991). 2. Chemical Industries- potentialities for development in Assam in collaboration with industries, Assam Industrial Development Corporation, Small Industries Development Corporation, IDBI, IFCCI and other organizations of the Central and State Governments.
3.National seminar on Medicinal plants-chemistry and uses (Sponsored by the University Grants Commission) in collaboration with department of Chemistry, Gauhati University (!996). 4.National seminar cum workshop on RENEWABLE ENERGY IN NORTH EAST WITH SPECIAL REFERNCE TO BIO ENERGY TECHNOLOGY.organized by Society for Chemical Education, Department of Energy, Tezpur University, Solar Energy Society of India (North East Chapter) and Ministry of Non Conventional Energy Sources, Govt. of India. Sponsored by University Grants Commission and cosponsored by Indian Renewable Energy Development Association, Assam Science Technology and Environment Council, Oil India Limited and Tata BP Solar India (Bangalore, 1999). Proceedings and recommendations of the seminars are also published.
MICROSCALE LABORATORY AND COMPUTER APLICATIONS:
A training programme on Micro Scale Laboratory for the college teachers of chemistry was held on 3 January, 2000 in the department of chemistry, Gauhati University . Professor Mono Mohan Singh, Director of Micro Scale Laboratory, Merrimack college, Andover, U.S.A. was the resource person for the program. The society will initiate introduction of micro scale laboratories in the colleges of Assam.
Subsequently a WORKSHOP ON MICROSCALE LABORATORY WAS ORGANIZED by the Society spnosored by UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION and TEZPUR UNIVERSITY held at Darrang College, Tezpur and Computer Centre of Tezpur University. In this workshop 40 teachers from the colleges of North Region including one research scholar of Japan was trained with introduction of microscale laboratory in the collefes. Moreover all the participants are allowed to use computers as teaching aids fo chemistry.
NATIIONAL SCIENCE DAY:
The Society organizes National Science Day on 28 February every year as a participant on the programme initiated by National Science Communication Centre of Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Science Day , 2000 was held at Gauhati University Model High School on 28 February, 2000 onTheme: Recreating interest and Excitement in basic sciences Essay Competition on 'Science and Technology on the threshhold of Twenty First Century'- 24 Essays received from different schools of Greater Guwahati. Science quiz was the special attraction of the Science Day. Prizes were distributed to the winners of (i) Quiz snd (ii) Essay competition . Science Day 2001 is being organized on theme 'Information Technology for Science Education'. A special issue on Chemistry Education, Vol.11, No.1, 2001 is being published along with SCE NEWS LETTER, Vol.2, No.1, 2001 as Science Day Supplement.
Dr.R.K.Brua Memorial Lecture: Late Dr.Rohini Kanta Barua, head of the department of chemistry from 1960 to 1968 took th leadership role in shaping the department for innovationand research during his short span in the department. His untimely death in July 1968 caused great setback in the department. But his junior colleagues and recruited junior teaches of the department carriried forward his efforts to make the department a dynamic one in India. In order to keep his contributions alive and to motivate the younger generations the Society has started Dr.R.K.Barua memorial lecture from 1998. So far four lectures were organized where eminent scientists from India participated in the specialized lecture in the field of chemistry and biochemistry.
VISION 2020: Chemical Literacy Mission of UNESCO-Project 2002+
The Society will fulfil its mission of chemical literacy for all citizens in a 25 year perspective. It will initiate activities of the Society in all regions of Assam through its branches. New branches will be opened in all science colleges of Assam. The citizens of the localities in and around the colleges will be mobilised through the sister educational institutions to spread the messages of chemistry to all people living in the localities
The draft recommendations for project 2002+2 were approved in the concluding session of International Conference of UNESCO held in Goa represnted by 400 participants from 35 countries of the world. The recommendations will be finally accepted in Paris and are to be implemented in all countries in the time frame shown in the draft. Project 2000+ of UNESCO as approved by UNESCO in 1993 has been discussed in several international conferences in the last 8 years held in different regions of the world, All the teachers and teacher educators are expected to involve themselves in implementing project 2000+ of UNESCO along with NGOs and the respective Govt.s of all countries. In Assam SEBA, ASHEC, Assam sScience Society, Assam Academy of Mathematics and Society for Chemical Education can form an working group for utilization of funds earmarked by UNESCO and other bodies to fulfil the objectives of Science, Technolgy and Mathematics Literacy for all along with EFA yet to be completed. Th ecolleges in Assam having science in TDC can form a body including teachers from all disciplines of science to form a nucleus for the college.The colleges will be the centres which will include the higher secondsry, secondary, primary and other educational institutions of the regions. A convener should be selected who will be the member of the working group to be formed in Assam to be sent to UNESCO.
Chemical Education in Assam
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRYGAUHATI UNIVERSITYGopinath Bordoloi Nagar Guwahati 781 014, Assam
Established in 1955. Intoduced semester system with internal assaessment in 1996in P.G courses.. There are 7 Professors, 7 readers, 6 senior lecturer in the department at present. All teachers of the department are life members of Society For Chemical Education, Assam. The department have produced fifty Ph.D.s in last five years total number of Ph.Ds being more than 150. The department has international collaboration with Iowa State University of Science and Technology , Ames, U.S.A. in Chemistry and Bichemistry of Vitamin A with Vitamin A Research Group in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics. With Michigan State University of U.S.A. on X ray crystallography of inorganic complexes.
The department has organized three snational seminars besides organizing seminars in collaboration with Society For Chemical Education on Chemical Industries – Potentialities for Development in Assam and on Medicinal Chemistry of Natural Products with refence to North East. Recently the Society has organized th biennial workshop on catalysis in association with Catalysis Society of India on theme- Catalysis on Petro;eum and Petrochemical Industries,
The department has organized so far seven refreshers courses for teachers of chemistry.
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