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With a series that first launched in 2021, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has been examining how chemistry education can better prepare students to help solve some of our most pressing challenges.
"We want a modern chemistry education to equip young people to address climate and sustainability challenges, and to ensure they receive the skills and careers guidance needed to pursue green jobs in the chemical sciences and support a thriving green economy." -Royal Society of Chemistry
Parts 1 of the Green Shoots report presented views on the topic from students and teachers. Part 2 did the same for the people in industry and academia who might employ those students. In Part 3, RSC makes the case that "teaching sustainability through real-world examples helps students engage and see chemistry’s relevance to society."
Key findings from the series include:
- Students and teachers want climate change and sustainability included in their chemistry curriculum
- Chemists in industry and academia want graduates who have carbon literacy, who understand the lifecycle and impact of materials, and who appreciate the finite nature of resources
- Just 50% of students surveyed said their chemistry courses taught climate change and sustainability in ways that felt relevant to their lives
The Green Shoots report includes a series of recommended actions designed to address these and other findings uncovered in the series.
Access the Green Shoots report and related materials
Read an article about the report in Sustainable Business Magazine
