Presentation given at the ICPAC conference Chemistry: The Key for our Future July 2-6, 2012 Mauritius. The presentation examines the status and popularity of chemistry and describes how the subject might be made more interesting and accessible by creating ‘hands on’ experiences for young people in developing countries where chemistry is vital to the nation’s economy. The proceedings of the conference have now been published in a book.

1. Mauritius
Chemistry Today and Tomorrow
„The Chemistry Aid Group‟ led by PROFESSOR
ANTONY REST
“Chemistry Aid” and the Chemistry Video Consortium,
School of Chemistry, University
of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United
Kingdom
Email: ajr@soton.ac.uk
URL: www.focusbiz.co.uk/chemistry
Presenter Dr Ray Wallace

2. Chemistry Today
• The numbers of students opting for Chemistry and
other Sciences are declining all over the world
• At the same time the world relies more and more
on science and technology
• WHY THE DECLINE IN NUMBERS?
• CAN THE TREND BE REVERSED?
2

3. Chemistry Today
Some Student’s Views
• Chemistry is too Abstract
• Chemistry is Boring
• Chemistry is Not Relevant
3

4. Chemistry Today
Some Student’s Views
• Chemistry is too Difficult
• It is difficult to get good Grades
• Careers advice is Lacking
4

5. Chemistry Today
Some School’s and Teacher’s Views
• Chemicals, equipment and facilities are too
expensive
• Chemistry courses are difficult to put on
• There are safety, insurance and waste disposal
issues
• Finding good, enthusiastic staff is difficult
• Poor grades penalise schools in league tables
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6. Chemistry Today
Public and Press Opinions
• Don’t understand Chemistry
• Blame Chemistry for disasters, e.g. pollution,
environmental damage and global warming
• Don’t recognize all the good things that arise
from Chemistry, e.g. pharmaceuticals, plastics,
IT materials
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7. Chemistry Today
Government Opinions
• Chemistry is vital to the national economy in
terms of industries, health of the nation, and
innovations for the future, e.g. Chemistry is
worth £250 billion (x Rp. 14 ,000) to the UK
economy each year
• Lots of careers are based on qualifications in
Chemistry
• Countries need “home grown” Chemists,
Scientists, Engineers and Medical Practitioners
rather than relying on overseas personnel
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8. Chemistry Tomorrow
Question: What can be done?
Answer: Students need more hands on experiences
• Employ Some High Tech Solutions,
e.g. Multimedia and IT
• Employ Some Low Tech Solutions,
e.g. Use of Plastic Equipment
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9. Chemistry Tomorrow
Multimedia and IT Solutions
• CDROMs and DVDs via Data Video Projectors
• Downloads from the Internet, Satellite,
Mobile Phones and I-Pods
• Use YouTube and Facebook
• Use local and national Networking
• Adapt/customise international resources to
local syllabus
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10. Chemistry Tomorrow
Low Tech Solutions
• Use of plastic bags
• Use of plastic trays and
equipment
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11. Chemistry Tomorrow
• Use of everyday chemicals, e.g. from
markets, supermarkets and the environment
• Make use of “Science Days” and Road Shows,
e.g. a “Chemistry Bus”
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12. Chemistry Tomorrow
Question: What happens if there is no power to
drive the high tech solutions?
Answer: Use solar energy generators
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13. Chemistry Tomorrow
Solar panel mounted on a classroom roof is
better than mounting on a pole. The latter led
to electrical losses through cable resistance
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14. Chemistry Tomorrow
Example of a kit for use in a
classroom: laptop and projector
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15. Chemistry Tomorrow
Dell’s M109S projector – a genuine laptop fed SVGA
projector requiring only 47 W – makes a solar charged,
battery-powered classroom projection feasible.
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16. Chemistry Tomorrow
Projected image in a classroom – using a cell-
phone as Bluetooth modem for Internet
connection
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17. Chemistry Tomorrow
Practical output of 2x80W solar panels = 80 Watts
Power requirements:
Power rating of a typical laptop = 20 Watts
Power rating of a Dell video /data
projector = 47 Watts
Cabling, batteries and inverter losses = 10 Watts
Battery used: sealed 100 Ah (fully charges from empty
over four days)
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18. Chemistry Tomorrow
Power system Cost
Solar panels $1000
Inverter $110
Charge/discharge conditioner $35
TOTAL COST $1145
ICT components Cost
Dell projector $375
Netbook computer $300
External CD-ROM drive $40
TOTAL COST $705
18 Total cost = $1850

19. Conclusions
• Using High and Low Tech Solutions enables students to
have “Good Visual” and “Hands-on” experiences of
Chemistry perhaps for the first time
• Such approaches can help advance learner’s IT skills,
especially in rural areas of Developing Countries
• These approaches use resources developed and proven in
other countries and thus these can be cost-effective
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20. Acknowledgements
• Teachers in our careers
• Colleagues in the Chemistry Video Consortium
• Colleagues in “Chemistry Aid”, e.g. Jared Ogunde and Anthony Jadolah
(Scientific Advisory and Information Network, Kenya), Jean Johnson and
Pat Johnson (Uganda, UK), Keith Wilkinson (Zambia), Jodye Selco (East
Africa, USA), Colin Osborne (RSC)
• Publishers who have allowed materials to be customised, e.g. Royal
Society of Chemistry (RSC)
• Chemistry Video Consortium www.focusbiz.co.uk/chemistry, Royal
Society of Chemistry & Nottingham Trent University for Sponsorship
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