Chemistry Teachers' Support
Chemistry teachers' meetings are an excellent way for local teachers to get together on a regular basis to hear about what's going on in the chemistry teaching world, and keep up to date with research in the Department of Chemistry.
We are delighted to be hosting a University of Canterbury Visiting Erskine Fellow in the Chemistry department throughout May.
Kieran Lim (Deakin University, Australia) is a University of Canterbury Visiting Erskine Fellow in the Department of Chemistry. Although his doctoral research was in physical chemistry, especially in the area of mathematical and computational modelling of collisional energy processes that govern how quickly some gaseous reactions occur, his research interests now encompass chemical and science education, forensic science and analytical chemistry. Kieran served on the Science Advisory Panel that developed the new Australian National Curriculum for years F-10 (equivalent to NZ years 1-11). He is the recipient of an Australian Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2010), and the Royal Australian Chemical Institute's Fensham Medal For Outstanding Contribution to Chemical Education (2011). Kieran was a plenary lecturer at the Science Teachers' Association of Victoria's Science Leaders Conferences in 2010 and 2011
Please email outreach @canterbury.ac.nz to register interest and give us approximate numbers for any of these events.
1. Friday 18 May, 4:00pm – 5:30 pm, Rutherford building room 531 (Chem dept)
Afternoon tea for chemistry teachers followed by short snippets from Kieran Lim:
- a new method of setting out titration calculations (suitable for senior chemistry students and/or teachers)
- using spreadsheets to explore equilibrium (suitable for senior chemistry students and/or teachers)
- Cube teaching resource
2. Monday 21st May, 4:00pm-5:00pm, in Law 108.
“Green chemistry(responsible/ethical chemistry)”
Lecture for senior chemistry students and their teachers. Students may attend without their teachers too!
The practice of science occurs in the context of societal and moral values. Human experimentation, deforestation, and pollution are some examples where science and technology have been applied or implemented without a full consideration of the consequences. Over the last 20-30 years, society has become increasingly aware of the environmental costs of our modern lifestyle. This has led to what some call "green chemistry".
Better names are the "ethical practice of chemistry", "sustainable chemistry" or "responsible chemistry". Most textbook examples of responsible chemistry are from the northern hemisphere. This lecture will present the principles of the ethical practice of chemistry, and cite some examples from Australia and New Zealand.
Free parking is available in Clyde Road Car Park or Law Car Park, both on University Drive, but ONLY in visitor, student or staff spaces at that time. Please do not park in spaces reserved for individuals or disabled persons.
A map is here: http://maps.canterbury.ac.nz/home/link?q=Law 108&a=-43.525614095850436&n=172.58408475134274&z=17&l=1&i=null&g=null
3. Thursday 31st May, 4:00pm – 5:00pm, in Chemistry 531
Seminar for teachers who will be teaching the new internal assessment (3.2) on spectroscopy in 2013
- Mass spectrometry and/or mass-spectral interpretation
- Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and/or NMR interpretation
If you would like to be informed about the the next meeting please email outreach@canterbury.ac.nz or call 364 2178.