The End of Simple Problems: Repositioning Chemistry in Higher Education and Society Using a Systems Thinking Approach and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as a Framework

Eleni Michalopoulou; Dudley E Shallcross; Ed Atkins; Aisling Tierney; Nick C Norman; Chris Preist; Simon  O'Doherty; Chris J Willmore

doi:10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00270

The End of Simple Problems: Repositioning Chemistry in Higher Education and Society Using a Systems Thinking Approach and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as a Framework

Eleni Michalopoulou^*, Dudley E Shallcross, Ed Atkins, Aisling Tierney, Nick C Norman, Chris Preist, Simon O'Doherty, Chris J Willmore

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to discuss ways that a chemistry course could reposition itself by adopting interdisciplinary approaches based on systems thinking and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as overarching frameworks, to give an overview of several challenges that chemistry in higher education is facing, and to discuss how those can be addressed as a result of this repositioning. We will be discussing the need for a new type of scientist, one who has a deep understanding of their own discipline but also an overview of the links with other disciplines and is equipped with skills that will help them contribute to the solutions of a very complex system: the human–environment interaction system. Chemists should be part of wh

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2825-2835
Number of pages	11
Journal	Journal of Chemical Education
Volume	96
Issue number	12
Early online date	10 Sep 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00270
Publication status	Published - 10 Dec 2019

Keywords

Collaborative/Cooperative Learning
Computer-Based Learning
Distance Learning/Self Instruction
First-Year Undergraduate/General
Interdisciplinary/Multidisciplinary
Internet/Web-Based Learning
Second-Year Undergraduate
Student-Centered Learning
Sustainability
Systems Thinking

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Michalopoulou, E., Shallcross, D. E., Atkins, E., Tierney, A., Norman, N. C., Preist, C., O'Doherty, S., & Willmore, C. J. (2019). The End of Simple Problems: Repositioning Chemistry in Higher Education and Society Using a Systems Thinking Approach and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as a Framework. Journal of Chemical Education, 96(12), 2825-2835. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00270

Michalopoulou, Eleni ; Shallcross, Dudley E ; Atkins, Ed ; Tierney, Aisling ; Norman, Nick C ; Preist, Chris ; O'Doherty, Simon ; Willmore, Chris J. / The End of Simple Problems : Repositioning Chemistry in Higher Education and Society Using a Systems Thinking Approach and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as a Framework. In: Journal of Chemical Education. 2019 ; Vol. 96, No. 12. pp. 2825-2835.

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Michalopoulou, E, Shallcross, DE , Atkins, E , Tierney, A , Norman, NC , Preist, C , O'Doherty, S & Willmore, CJ 2019, 'The End of Simple Problems: Repositioning Chemistry in Higher Education and Society Using a Systems Thinking Approach and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as a Framework', Journal of Chemical Education, vol. 96, no. 12, pp. 2825-2835. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00270

The End of Simple Problems : Repositioning Chemistry in Higher Education and Society Using a Systems Thinking Approach and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as a Framework. / Michalopoulou, Eleni; Shallcross, Dudley E ; Atkins, Ed ; Tierney, Aisling ; Norman, Nick C ; Preist, Chris ; O'Doherty, Simon ; Willmore, Chris J.

In: Journal of Chemical Education, Vol. 96, No. 12, 10.12.2019, p. 2825-2835.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal)

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AU - Atkins, Ed

AU - Tierney, Aisling

AU - Norman, Nick C

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AU - O'Doherty, Simon

AU - Willmore, Chris J

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Michalopoulou E, Shallcross DE , Atkins E , Tierney A , Norman NC , Preist C et al. The End of Simple Problems: Repositioning Chemistry in Higher Education and Society Using a Systems Thinking Approach and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as a Framework. Journal of Chemical Education. 2019 Dec 10;96(12):2825-2835. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00270