Jorge M. Menacho, Presentation to the Annual Dinner of The Chemist Chilean Professional Association, November 13th, 2015.

Transcription

1 COLEGIO CHILENO DE QUÍMICOS A.G. Jorge M. Menacho, Presentation to the Annual Dinner of The Chemist Chilean Professional Association, November 13th, 2015.

2 AGENDA Roadmap of the Modern Society Needs for Science and Technology Starting the 21th Century The Chemistry Education Empowering our Young Chemists Remarks

3 CHEMISTRY: THE NEVER-ENDING SOURCE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Chemistry is a constant source of innovation for the modern civilization benefit. It is hard to imagine any product introduced in recent times that did not require the creative efforts of a Chemist at some stage in its development. The 20th Century saw several industrial revolutions resulting from new materials created by Chemists, for example plastics, the liquid crystal display on your computer, the etching process that made microchip technology possible, and many developments in medicine, antibiotics and DNA technology. We can expect many more civilisation-changing discoveries in this 21th Century: molecular machines, molecular opto-electronics, new magnetic and superconducting materials, smart materials, molecular medicine, medical imaging, fuel cells and many others.

4 WHERE THE HUMAN SOCIETY IS MOVING? NEWS HEADLINES IN THE 2020 Robots have entered our homes for personal use. Sensory devices guide our everyday lives. Mobile financial transactions are now in crypto-currencies There are 6 million autonomous cars in Europe and North America Big data has entered the Zettabyte era (10 12 GB). 3D printing is commonplace. 4D printing is gaining mainstream acceptance. New drugs improve significantly the quality of life and living expectancy. Summer Sale: Low-cost holidays in space.

5 INTELLIGENT IS THE NEW GREEN IN THE 2025 Intelligent cities Intelligent technology Intelligent infrastructure Intelligent energy Intelligent mobility Intelligent buildings Intelligent windows Intelligent clouds Intelligent materials Intelligent bandages Intelligent factory Intelligent meters

6 WOMEN EMPOWERMENT There are 117 female directors of FTSE 100 companies Female junior exec pay in the UK is rising faster tan male counterpart Women are getting the majority of higher education awards By 2020 over half of millionaires in the UK will be female The N of women-owned business grew by 59% in the US since the 2000 In Nordic countries women could soon have equal political power

7 CONNECTIVITY IS ACCELERATING CONVERGENCE OF INDUSTRIES, PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIES + = Space Industry Solar Industry Space Based Solar Power + = Cars Sensing and Communications Autonomous Cars + = Building Technology Smart Automation Smart Home Hubs

8 LIKE BLACK SWANS, NATURAL DISASTERS WILL COME OUT OF THE BLUE, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, 2007 Tsunamis, hurricanes, superstorms, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, droughts will continue to take their toll. Mother Nature is beyond our control and on account of a more populated world can unleash events of increasing consequence for human life. Moreover, so far this century nothing serious has yet been done by the super-emitters on global warming. It hardly rates a mention among political leaders whose tenure of office is far more determined by their country's short-term economic performance than by long-term climate change. One hopes that the meticulous analysis of further scientific data and new developments will alleviate this hard menace on human life.

9 NEEDS FOR SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY WITHIN THE NEXT 20 YEARS Efficient Energy Generation and Delivery Clean Water Generation and Delivery Human Augmentation and Synthetic Biology Large Scale Distributed Autonomous Systems Transformational Manufacturing (3D/4D Printing) Embedded Intelligence and Communication Nano-Science and Nano- Technology Food Supply and Delivery

10 EDUCATION MUST SYNC WITH THE JOB MARKET AND THE CHANGING NATURE OF WORK Contrary to what one might expect, working in the context of application increases the sensitivity of scientists and technologists to the broader implications of what they are doing. Operating in this new framework makes all participants more reflexive. This is because the issues which forward the development of new research cannot be specified in scientific and technical terms alone. The research towards the resolution of these types of problems has to incorporate options for the implementation of the solutions and these are bound to touch the values and preferences of different individuals and groups traditionally outside of the scientific and technological system.

11 REVISING THE SCALE OF VALUES Current evaluation system of our Academics privileges scientific research-works and its publications and not giving enough credit to technological developments and applications. Chemistry is the richest breeding ground to give tremendous contributions to Society welfare, but this is not a priority at current Universities in Chile. Rules need to be revised and improved. On the other hand, a Chemist professional is not necessarily synonym of a Scientific person, and do not forget, the University has the primary obligation to prepare Chemist professionals well-endowed with all tools in syntony with the real world needs and opportunities in the 21th Century.

12 HOW ABOUT CHEMISTRY EDUCATION WORLDWIDE?

13 CASE STUDY 1: CHEMISTRY AT THE MIT - USA Molecular Basis of Diseases Renewable Energy Continuous Manufacturing Four years: BSc Chemistry Clear specialization options One more year + Research + Defense: MSc Chemistry Environment Green Chemistry Drug Design, Delivery Materials Synthesis

14 CASE STUDY 2: CHEMISTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON Medicinal Chemistry Chemistry with Mathematics Chemical Physics Four years: BSc Chemistry Clear specialization options One more year + Research + Defense: MSc Chemistry Chemistry with Language Chemistry with Management Chemistry Int. Programme

15 CHEMISTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHILE Medicinal Chemistry Environmental Chemistry Analytical Chemistry Four years: BSc Chemistry Clear specialization options One more year + Research + Defense: MSc Chemistry Colloid Chemistry Material Chemistry Metallurgical Chemistry

16 EMPOWERING OUR YOUNG CHEMISTS Strong changes since 1990 to 2015 are noticed; the number of subjects increased from 41 to 66; 8 labs subjects were added to the hard courses and electives raised from 6 to 20 selected from more than 50 options. This is a significant step ahead. Curriculum could be strongly improved by changing Unit Operations I and II by the related specific subjects: Transport Phenomena and Fluid Mechanics. Adding Reactor Kinetics would provide a fundamental subject useful for design, optimization and control of industrial processes. Even possible to apply the MSc programme once the BSc degree is reached, this should be adopted as the main option, (subjected to goal compliance), such that our Chemists regularly bear the MSc degree together with the professional title.

17 EMPOWERING OUR YOUNG CHEMISTS Elective subjects should be taken according to Lines existing in the MSc programme and a Diploma should be given for that specialization. Specific proposal is as follows: Ending the fourth year: BSc in Chemistry Plus one more year specialization: Diploma on the Specific Chosen Line Plus an investigation research (Thesis work) and defense: MSc in Chemistry and Professional Title of Chemist. Suggestions are quite close to current options. Its adoption would simplify the curricular program and the most important, it would be a recognition to the high level of our graduated Chemists, thus improving their relative position and insertion into the professional market.

18 THE 1968 (ENTERING) GENERATION Me

19 FINAL REMARKS Specific research lines need to be defined according to an Strategic Long- Term Plan linked to relevant Society Needs in the 21th Century (Chile and globally). Outstanding lines are identified from current Mega tendencies. For comparison purposes the existing MSc programme (University of Chile) is included observing a strong coincidence. Outstanding Society Needs Material Science Medicinal Chemistry Climate Change and Biodiversity Sensing and Communications Earth Sciences Energy and Natural Resources Current MSc Programme Material Science Medicinal Chemistry Environmental Chemistry Analytical Chemistry Metallurgical Chemistry Colloid Chemistry

20 FINAL REMARKS Chemists must be prepared to develop their skills and knowledge within the frame of their probable occupations. The solid formation in basic sciences they hold nowadays must be complemented with (i) organized specialization courses and (ii) active participation in strategic research topics oriented not only to science but also to technology applications. Current evaluation system of our Academics privileges scientific researchworks and its publications and not giving enough credit to technological developments and applications. It needs revision and corrections. The model we need would seem to demand a core of permanent full time faculty together with a larger periphery of other experts that are associated within the University Ecosystem.

21 FINAL REMARKS Collaboration agreements with global entities (industrial in addition to academics) is a key activity to assure robust and oriented formation. An institution owned by the University should be created to handle new inventions, entrepreneurship, spin-off and commercialization initiatives. Curricular subjects must be flexible but well-ordered to facilitate early specializations of future Chemists according to personal interests. The professional title of Chemist clearly is not enough to understand the real potentiality of this profession and it is easily confused with a large number of technical and professional careers which borrow the words Chemist or Chemical in their names.

22 FINAL REMARKS Chemistry is a Major subject which does not give information on real skills and knowledge of junior Chemist professionals. Specialization must be emphasized by offering a set of selected Minors. It is different to say I m a Chemist, BSc in Chemistry compared to say I m a Chemist, BSc and MSc in Chemistry and diplomated in Cancer Drugs Synthesis. Suggestion is as follows: Ending the fourth year: BSc in Chemistry (already existing) One more additional year for specialization: Diploma on the Specific Chosen Line (not existing in this way) An investigation research work (Thesis work) and its defense: MSc in Chemistry and Professional Title of Chemist (existing but not obligated) Curricular options currently offered by our Universities are excellent but improvable.

23 MODELLING THE FUTURE CHEMIST ENVIRONMENT International R & D Agencies National Universities Government Agencies Energy & Natural Resources Material Science Earth Science International Universities Core of Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics Medicinal Chemistry Sensing & Communications International Companies Climate Change & Biodiversity National TI Instruments Technical Management Faculty Office Financing Agencies Business Development National Companies International TI Agencies Experts & Consultants Technological Arm

24 SCIENCE c INDUSTRY COLEGIO CHILENO DE QUÍMICOS A.G. TECHNOLOGY Jorge M. Menacho, jorgemenacho@drm.cl, Annual Dinner of The Chemist Chilean Professional Association, November 13th, 2015.