Volume 4 (Issue 3) Download

Core Values in Chemistry Education

Jan Apotheker

 

Abstract

In this article core values for chemists are discussed that have been implemented by the Royal Dutch Chemical Society. Each individual that wishes to become a member of the Society needs to underwrite these core values. The core values are meant to showcase the special position chemists and chemical knowledge have in society. Chemistry and chemical knowledge can be used have a positive effect on the environment and the society. An example is the production of pharmaceutical compounds for health purposes. On the other hand, negative effects are also possible, pollution, drug synthesis, chemical weapons are examples of problems in society, where chemistry plays a pivotal role in the processes. In the article three projects are described in which education is used to start the discussion on ethical issues and the role of chemists and chemical knowledge. The first project focused on multiple use of chemicals was developed in a cooperation between the Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). The other two were developed by a working group of the Royal Dutch Chemical Society, working on formulating the core values for chemists. All projects were successful in starting up a discussion about the core values and the relationship between chemistry and society.