Systems thinking, well established in several STEM disciplines, has been identified as one of five key competencies essential for a sustainable future. Chemistry education is now focusing substantial attention on systems thinking as one promising holistic approach to promote meaningful and deep learning of chemistry content while equipping students to understand and address global sustainability challenges. Important groundwork was laid by a recently completed (2017-2020) IUPAC Project on Systems Thinking in Chemistry Education, in which the project team worked in concert with the green and sustainable chemistry education community. We report here on the approach and first steps taken by a new IUPAC project, <i>Systems Thinking in Chemistry for Sustainability: Toward 2030 and beyond (STCS 2030+)</i>. These global IUPAC projects and many others have benefitted from “Talanquer thinking” in helping educators work to overcome high activation barriers as we progress along the educational pathway from what “we’ve always done” to new ways of teaching and learning that are needed to analyze, comprehend, and manage the complex processes that are shaping life on our planet.

Thinking like a Talanquer: Weaving together sustainability literacy and chemistry education through systems thinking

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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