International Year of Chemistry (IYC) 2011 and the Global Experiment. Rovani Sigamoney IYC Focal Point at UNESCO 23 February 2012 UNESCO, HQ

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1 International Year of Chemistry (IYC) 2011 and the Global Experiment Rovani Sigamoney IYC Focal Point at UNESCO 23 February 2012 UNESCO, HQ

2 Background to the International Year of Chemistry Ethiopia - submitted the draft resolution to the UN General Assembly and UNESCO after the IUPAC Council proposed the proclamation in 2007; UNESCO s Executive Board agreed in April 2008 to support all efforts leading to the UN General Assembly declaration. 63rd United Nations General Assembly in 2008 declared 2011 as the International Year of Chemistry UNESCO, lead UN Agency, and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Partners for the Year;

3 Why an International Year in Chemistry? Need for careers in science and particularly chemistry Need for chemistry to focus on sustainable development Need to promote women in science Need to build public awareness of the importance of chemistry

4 Generate enthusiasm for the creative future of chemistry; Celebrate the role of women in chemistry - 100th year celebration of the Chemistry Nobel Prize of Ms. Marie Sklodowska Curie; Encourage the interest of young people; Increase public appreciation in meeting world needs; Objectives of IYC

5 The Global Experiment Water A Chemical Solution Water is essential to life. Provision of pure water is one of the greatest ongoing contributions of chemistry to human well-being. The Global Experiment is a signature/flagship IYC-2011 activity initiated by IUPAC/UNESCO, involving children and teachers around the world.

6 Objectives of the Global Experiment Increase the public appreciation and understanding of chemistry (the value of chemistry in understanding issues and resolving them) Encourage interest of young people in chemistry (active participation in a global activity) Generate enthusiasm for the creative future of chemistry (showing role of chemistry in ensuring potable water supply) Celebrate chemistry and in particular the role of women in chemistry (creating the largest chemistry experiment ever)

7 The Concept Three aspects Scientific enquiry chemistry as an aid to understanding Chemistry as a problem solver and as a contributor to human wellbeing Simple experimental designs, safe for children Students will collect samples and gather data on water quality and water treatment in their locality. Results will be posted on a global web-based tool to allow students to compare their results with those of students all over the world. Some schools participating in the UNESCO Associated Schools Programme in the developing world are supplied with equipment for free.

8 Activities The four activities in the Global Experiment are: Measurement of water quality: ph: students collect data measuring the ph of a water body Salinity: students explore the salinity of their local water body Water purification: Filtration and disinfection: students will learn how chemistry is used to help provide safe drinking water Desalination: Students will construct a solar still from household materials and experiment with its use to purify water.

9 School Packs Key point - Experimental protocols designed to be within the ability of schools in developed world Where schools lack equipment School Packs available for 100 children from RADMASTE price $160 + delivery

10 Coordination Web Based Tools Located at water.chemistry2011.org Translated into main UN languages Schools registration Key educational and support materials Interactive data logging and global visualisation of results International networking and schools partnerships Forum to stimulate wider scientific enquiry into water understanding and resolution of issues

11 Coordination Interactive 2D and 3D map showing the ph values as an average for each country, the values measured by each school

12 Coordination Closer look at the data submitted by the students Hundreds of schools have been taking part in the activity

13 Location and contact information of the schools taking part in the activity Coordination

14 A Web 2.0 Educational Activity Twitter Facebook

15 A Web 2.0 Educational Activity (YouTube)

16 Big Splash, Cape Town, Launch of the Global Experiment on UN World Water Day on 22 March 2011; 1000 schoolchildren (15-18) carried out 2 of 4 experiments to test the water quality from an informal settlement and from a natural source of water; Sponsored by Department of Science & Technology (DST), South Africa and Sasol; I never knew Chemistry could be so much fun & teach us to purify our own water March 2011

17 Big Splash, Cape Town, March 2011

18 A Truly Global Activity

19 Current Impact (some facts) Activity Around 1000 schools registered with students from over 82 countries from the 5 continents The Twitter account of the Global Experiment has 600 followers 650 people follow the Global Experiment in Facebook featured in TV and Radio shows, news articles, and blogs, including BBC s The One Show on 21/06/2011 and the BBC Radio show Science in Action on 23/06/2011. The American Chemical Society (ACS) and NASA Explore Water and Chemistry on Earth and in Space on NASA s Digital Learning Network on Thursday, 22 September 2011.

20 Current Impact (some facts)

21 Current Impact (some Website available in 5 languages: English, French, Spanish Chinese, and Russian, Experimental protocols in 11 languages: English, French, Spanish, Russian, Hebrew, Portuguese, Arabic, Catalan, Slovak, Polish and Chinese state-of-the-art interactive tools, 2D and 3D maps showing the data, pictures, videos and news on the Global Experiment Distribution of free kits to 30+ counties facts)

22 The Largest Chemistry Experiment Ever

23 Legacy A sustainable step change in the current water monitoring activities by schools Lasting increase in interest in water-related issues and their resolution with the help of tools of chemistry Lasting international partnerships between schools, educational, governmental, non-governmental, and industrial organizations in science, education, and chemistry A change in attitude of students: Chemistry is fun

24 The Global Experiment Task Group IUPAC Education and Industry Committees UNESCO University of Alicante, Spain The University of Queensland, Australia University of the Witwatersrand Radmeester Centre, South Africa University of Lisbon, Portugal Universität zu Köln, Germany Tokyo Gakugei University, Japan International Water Association American Chemistry Society, USA Royal Society of Chemistry, UK BASF, Germany Cefic & ICCA, Belgium American Chemistry Council, USA European SchoolNet, Brussels