Awakening Interest in Science and Improving Attitudes toward Chemistry by Hosting an ACS Chemistry FeSTiVAl in Bogotá, Colombia

Abstract

The American Chemical Society's Chemistry Festivals, or "Festivales de Qui ́mica," are community events where chemistry professionals, professors, teachers, and students use hands-on activities to engage the public and demonstrate how chemistry appears in our everyday life. The Chemistry Festival Organizers received training from the ACS, either on an individual basis or as part of larger groups. Several activities chosen by ACS volunteers, which reliably "work well" for engaging visitors during community events, were given. In 2017, the authors held a Chemistry Festival in Bogota, Colombia for Mole Day (Oct. 23, 2017). Fourteen activities were held, where more than 1000 people participated. Participants reported high opinions about each of the activities and gained a more positive attitude toward chemistry after participating in the event. The Chemistry Festival awakens interest in science and its role in our daily lives and also generates enthusiasm and motivation in scholars, students, and other volunteers. This report argues that funds for public hands-on activities are effective to improve people's attitudes toward chemistry and suggests that these kinds of programs should be guaranteed and even expanded.

Awaking Interest in Science Learning: Hands-On Photosynthesis Demonstrations Using Elodea canadensis and Spinacia oleracea

“…Many scholars have agreed on the importance of students having an active encounter with the subject being studied. ,, This activity aims to increase the interest of students in science and ease the learning process of photosynthesis through an accessible, visually explicit, and cost-effective workshop. In this activity, students can perform the experiments by themselves and explore basic concepts of photosynthesis while increasing their curiosity through an inexpensive activity.…”

“…In 2014, Wesoloski suggested the utilization of fluorometry to help students to understand the photon absorbing nature of chlorophyll and its role in the photosynthetic electron transport chain . Also, finding exciting ways to teach awakens the interest in science . Other activities like Bring Your Own Lime look for hands-on ways to highlight the link between everyday life and chemistry to make science more relatable using a lime and a spectrophotometer …”

“…11 Also, finding exciting ways to teach awakens the interest in science. 12 Other activities like Bring Your Own Lime look for hands-on ways to highlight the link between everyday life and chemistry to make science more relatable using a lime and a spectrophotometer. 13 Bearing this in mind, we looked for different experiments to explain the process of photosynthesis to high school students from the ages 12 to 17.…”

Chemistry in Our Community: Strategies and Logistics Implemented to Provide Hands-On Activities to K–12 Students, Teachers, and Families

“…Family Science events have been developed in different forms, such as School Science Fairs, Science Nights, Night at the Museum, Science Day, and others. These types of events promote inquiry-based science education and encourage families to learn together while participating in hands-on activities. − ,− On occasion, these events are great resources for homeschoolers, for parents that lack confidence in how to explain STEM concepts, and to support, either or both, families from low-income and with language barriers. At Stan State, we have created an open house Science Day event that attracts more than 2500 members of the community.…”

La tabla periódica como fundamento para el aprendizaje de la Química y la construcción de conocimiento

“…Este proyecto cuenta con el apoyo de la American Chemical Society (ACS). Esta tabla periódica hecha con cubos será emblema del "3-Festival de Química", a realizarse el 23 de octubre de 2019 en las instalaciones del Departamento de Química de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Bogotá, el cual ya se ha organizado en años anteriores (Molina & Carriazo, 2019…”