National Chemistry conference at UCOL

National Chemistry conference at UCOL

The International Year of Chemistry is being marked at UCOL this coming week, as it hosts the National Chemical Education Conference.

ChemEd 2011 Celebrating the International Year of Chemistry, brings together chemistry educators and researchers from across sectors to learn from each other and celebrate the wonders of chemistry.

On the ChemEd conference web site, Conference convenor Craig Steed describes Palmerston North as “a hub of scientific endeavor and research. Alongside important tertiary institutes such as Massey University and UCOL, Palmerston North is home to a wide variety of research institutes and scientific companies, providing a perfect atmosphere of discovery and enterprise. The venue for the conference will be the modern and architecturally inspiring Universal College of Learning (UCOL) located in the heart of the city centre.”

More than 100 delegates from universities, polytechnics and secondary schools throughout New Zealand will attend the conference, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Education and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

Speakers include:

Jonathan Hare: Dr Hare worked in the Sussex Fullerene Centre with Professor Harry Kroto, the 1996 winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. He is well known for his television work in programmes such as Rough Science and Hollywood Science as well as his involvement in the development of the Creative Science Centre at Sussex University in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Tony Wright: Dr Wright worked at Massey University before joining the University of Queensland. Dr Wright has had a long and passionate interest in Chemistry education and the use of information and communication technologies to support learning.

Professor Sir Peter Gluckman: Dr Gluckman is one of New Zealand’s best known scientists and founder of the Liggins Institute. Amongst many international awards, in 2001 he received New Zealand’s top science award, the Rutherford medal, is in 2009 he was appointed as the first Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister.

UCOL Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer in Chemistry Dr David Shillington is presenting on Monday, on the topic of: The School Science Laboratory: Thought experiments for the future – practical tools for teachers.

Chemistry is a component in a number of UCOL programmes, including the National Diploma in Science, Certificate in Science and Health and the Bachelor of Nursing.

The conference opens on Sunday 17 July and ends on Wednesday 20 July.

© Scoop Media