Winner: 2021 Horizon Prize for Education
Molecular Educators
University of California, Los Angeles; Element26, Inc.; Baylor University
For the creation of innovative chemical education resources that benefit how students, children, and the general public learn organic chemistry.
The Molecular Educators team created multiple innovative education resources that benefit how students, children, and the public learn organic chemistry. Their work includes interactive technologies that aid in the visualisation of 3D chemical structures and help teach organic chemistry concepts. Additionally, they have created three organic chemistry colouring books and a children’s activity book that are aimed toward improving scientific literacy among children and non-scientist adults. These readily accessible, interactive educational tools complement traditional approaches to teaching chemistry, which, in turn, improve both the value of chemical education and public perception of organic chemistry.
Biography
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UCLA Chemistry Professor Neil Garg: “It’s hugely rewarding to know that our resources are helping people to learn across the world, and we’d like to extend a huge thank you to the Royal Society of Chemistry for this wonderful recognition.”
Molecular Educators
Q&A with Molecular Educators
What different strengths did people bring to the Molecular Educators team?
Our team was made up of a diverse group of individuals from various backgrounds and ages, including children, undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, a chemistry professor, and an expert in information technology. This range of perspectives allowed our team to both understand our target audience and create effective resources to address areas of need in STEM education.Jason Chari, UCLA student, creator of VRChem, O-Chem (Re)Activity Book and contributor to QRChem
Who have the resources benefitted, and in what ways?
Our resources have benefitted college-aged students taking general chemistry and organic chemistry by helping to explain challenging concepts in an interactive format. The resources also helped children (and their parents) become interested in science by connecting their favourite things with chemistry. One of the most awesome aspects of our work is that our resources have collectively reached people in more than 165 countries so far. Jason Chari, UCLA student, creator of VRChem, O-Chem (Re)Activity Book and contributor to QRChem
What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?
Be open-minded, don’t be afraid of failing, and seek out opportunities to engage in chemistry in different ways. If you take a class with someone who inspires you, talk to them and see if they can offer you guidance. Jason Chari, UCLA student, creator of VRChem, O-Chem (Re)Activity Book and contributor to QRChem
What were the biggest challenges when creating the resources?
The hardest part about creating The Organic Colouring Books was taking the tough subject of organic chemistry and turning it into an understandable idea that kids, like my younger siblings, can learn from and enjoy.Elaina Garg, Warner Avenue Elementary Student, creator of the Organic Colouring Book series
What has been the most rewarding part of this project?
The most rewarding part of this project was seeing kids all over the world actively learning chemistry and having fun while colouring molecules. Working with my sister and my dad was pretty cool too. Elaina Garg, Warner Avenue Elementary Student, creator of the Organic Colouring Book series
Why is chemistry important?
Chemistry is important because it’s all around us. It makes up everything and we wouldn’t survive without it. Elaina Garg, Warner Avenue Elementary Student, creator of the Organic Colouring Book series
What inspires or motivates your team?
Our team is motivated by the opportunity to create resources that are fun and interactive, which inspire people of all ages – and all over the world – to be excited about chemistry. Francesca Ippoliti, UCLA student, creator of RSChemistry, VRChem, the O-Chem (Re)Activity Book and contributor to QRChem
What is the importance of making chemical sciences more accessible and/or engaging to both students and the public?
As the chemical sciences are often perceived as a daunting and selective field, creating engaging, accessible resources that reach a broad audience can better connect people to chemistry. By helping the public appreciate the importance of chemical sciences, we can increase scientific literacy in our society, which will ultimately help solve major world problems. Francesca Ippoliti, UCLA student, creator of RSChemistry, VRChem, the O-Chem (Re)Activity Book and contributor to QRChem
How do you see this work developing over the next few years / what is next?
Over the next few years, we plan to expand these interactive resources to include educational tools for broader audiences, including high school chemistry students. We also hope to further develop our virtual reality resources as the technology improves. Eventually, we envision expanding our educational initiatives to other fields in the sciences as well. Francesca Ippoliti, UCLA student, creator of RSChemistry, VRChem, the O-Chem (Re)Activity Book and contributor to QRChem