National Chemistry Week: A Platform for Scholarship

Abstract

National Chemistry Week (NCW) is an annual centerpiece for chemistry outreach orchestrated by the American Chemical Society. During this week, chemical educators promote chemistry through public lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on experiments. These exhibits inspire and motivate students, young and old, to study and appreciate chemistry more deeply. Chemical educators also benefit through participation in NCW, because doing so has great potential to initiate and advance scholarly efforts. How outreach efforts such as those associated with NCW can stimulate and support scholarship in chemistry is described.

Outreach: Impact on Skills and Future Careers of Postgraduate Practitioners Working with the Bristol ChemLabS Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning

“…STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) departments run a variety of programs to promote their subject, disseminate current research, introduce school students to higher education, and support teachers and educators. − STEM departments in higher education institutions are considering impacts on the institution, recruitment, those delivering the outreach, and society. There are many reasons, other than driving student recruitment, to support outreach including the following: building partnerships with local communities (e.g., schools), interest groups (e.g., local businesses, guiding/scouting groups), regional organizations (e.g., business, charities), national bodies (government, national organizations such as Learned Societies), and even international stakeholders (e.g., NASA), training of external and internal staff and students, − knowledge exchange with an overarching objective to enhance the capacity of the institute. − …”

Communicating Chemistry in Informal Environments: A Framework for Chemists

“…The chemistry education research tools applied to learning in classroom settings may be applicable to communicating chemistry in informal settings. 13,14 In its 2012 report Responsible Conduct in the Global Research Enterprise, the InterAcademy Council noted: 15 The public's trust in research depends on the honesty, openness, and objectivity of researchers in communicating their results of research to those outside of the research community. This responsibility can take time away from research, but public communication is essential given the pervasive influence of research on the broader society.…”

“…Consequently, the report recommends “Chemists and experts in empirical approaches to science communication, informal learning, and chemistry education should collaborate to study chemistry communication in informal settings.” The committee recommends that such collaborations should focus on three priority areas: (i) public perceptions and understanding of chemistry; (ii) digital media; and (iii) chemistry research and education policy. The chemistry education research tools applied to learning in classroom settings may be applicable to communicating chemistry in informal settings. , …”