One of Dr. Gulacar’s main goals is to help his students appreciate the value of chemistry knowledge in their daily lives. Despite all earlier efforts to make chemistry relevant, he still noted that many students cared only about their test scores. They were unable to connect the dots and see the purpose of learning chemistry beyond academic success. In 2016, based on positive results reported in prior studies, Dr. Gulacar started integrating sustainability-oriented socio-scientific topics into his general chemistry classes. The first topic was hydraulic fracturing, which quickly captured his students‘ attention and increased participation significantly. After this successful implementation, students were guided to engage in discussions about phosphate sustainability and alternative energy as related to Sustainable Development Goals (2, 6, 7, 13, 15) issued by the UN. These topics helped his students see chemistry’s relevance, its influence on society, and its role and responsbility in constructing a sustainable future.

Helping students identify their passion: Incorporating sustainability-oriented socio-scientific discussions into chemistry curriculum to change students‘ perceptions of chemistry

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.