Chemical Education Journal (CEJ), Vol. 4, No. 1 /Registration No. 4-6/Received February 3, 2000.
URL = http://www.juen.ac.jp/scien/cssj/cejrnlE.html

Extending the Australian National Chemistry
Quiz into the Asian Region

C. L. Fogliani

Charles Sturt University, Bathurst NSW 2795 Australia

E-mail: cfogliani@csu.edu.au

Abstract: The Australian National Chemistry Quiz is a unique Chemical Education activity that has been organized since 1982 and in 1999 it was run in Australia and 15 neighbouring countries.

Introduction

Imagine some 103,760 students from 1,628 schools from throughout Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Brunei, Singapore, United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Fiji, Switzerland, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Western Samoa all sitting for the Australian National Chemistry Quiz. Yes that is exactly what happened on Thursday 22 July 1999. The Royal Australian Chemical Institute has taken a bold and positive initiative to promote chemistry in Australia by organising the Australian National Chemistry Quiz.

Aims and Objectives of Australian National Chemistry Quiz

The Australian National Chemistry Quiz is a unique chemical education activity. It provides a major focus for secondary school students on the relevance of chemistry in an exciting and stimulating way. It has made a significant contribution to the development of a grass-root appreciation of the role of chemistry in our society. Many of the questions are aimed at emphasising the connection between the academic image of chemistry and its day to day applications and its importance in the home, the environment and industry. Thus the questions where possible are free of specific syllabus content.

The aim of the Quiz is to promote and encourage an awareness of the nature and relevance of chemistry amongst secondary school students. This is clearly related to 'Science for Everybody' which is a national aim for Science Education in Australia. The Quiz also aims to encourage participation in a challenging and rewarding activity.

It is hoped that the Quiz will interest students in the further study of chemistry and will indicate to students the important role chemistry has to play in our society. Questions are based on the fundamental aspects of chemistry as well as questions involving its application in modern society. The questions are graded in terms of difficulty and it is expected that most students are able to answer many of the questions. The Quiz consists of 30 multiple choice questions and is held at two Junior levels (Years 7 & 8 and Years 9 & 10) and at two Senior levels (Years 11 & 12). By participating in the Quiz the students have the opportunity to improve their knowledge of chemistry.

The Quiz requires a one hour timeslot, is held at the participating school and is organised and supervised by a member of the School s teaching staff. The answers are recorded on a computer 'mark sense' answer sheet and sent to Charles Sturt University for computer marking. Many varying types of questions have been developed since the Quiz's inception including cryptic crossword, chemical crossword, word scrambles, plus many questions relating to the student s everyday experience.

Quiz results of Year 10 and Year 11 students are used to help select students for the Australian team to compete in the Chemistry Olympiad which is supported by the Minister of Employment Education and Training (DEET) and the Australian Academy of Science, 'Supporting this challenging competition for school students is a far-sighted initiative. It will improve the performance of the higher achiever while raising the interest of students generally in science education'.

I am aware of the lack of chemistry, as a subject, being taught in many junior science syllabi being currently utilised at Levels 7 and 8. However, we hope participation in this activity may stimulate these younger students to a realisation of the important role that chemistry plays in many of the fundamental processes which they encounter in their science course modules and in many aspects of everyday life. On completion of this Quiz, teachers may use it as a teaching tool, particularly if they spend time going through the answers to the questions.

History of Australian National Chemistry Quiz

The Quiz is run in every state in Australia and 11 neighbouring countries. The Quiz was organised for the first time in 1982. It was introduced into Papua New Guinea in 1985, Fiji in 1988, into New Zealand in 1992, into Malaysia, Western Samoa and Indonesia in 1993, into Vietnam and Singapore in 1994, into Philippines in 1995, into Sri Lanka in 1997, into Thailand in 1998, and into Brunei, United Kingdom, Switzerland and India in 1999. Quiz papers are translated into Vietnamese, Indonesian, Tamil, Sinhale and Thai.

TABLE 1: Quiz Entrants Since Inception

Year	Schools	Entrants
1982	150	8,850
1983	450	23,000
1984	550	29,000
1985	608	34,348
1986	662	38,857
1987	709	42,243
1988	774	53,076
1989	801	58,662
1990	843	62,930
1991	854	63,580
1992	840	63,923
1993	962	68,659
1994	1,062	72,009
1995	1,049	71,013
1996	1,246	83,600
1997	1,465	89,606
1998	1,634	97,402
1999	1,628	103,760

In 1999 there were 103,760 entries in the Quiz. A breakdown of the entries is shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2: Quiz Entries for 1999

STATE/ COUNTRY	YEAR 7	YEAR 8	YEAR 9	YEAR 10	YEAR 11	YEAR 12	TOTAL ENTERED	NO OF SCHOOLS
ACT	165	341	370	483	378	262	1999	25
NSW	2501	3422	4054	5126	7053	5326	27482	400
NT	13	20	19	9	58	53	172	7
QLD	416	1489	1916	2741	5582	4798	16942	248
SA	57	142	141	692	1633	900	3565	81
TAS	156	194	284	325	131	255	1345	29
VIC	585	680	784	846	2849	1603	7347	125
WA	118	597	859	1783	2028	1505	6890	87
AUSTRALIA	4011	6885	8427	12005	19712	14702	65742	1002
NEW ZEALAND	21	242	183	367	816	855	2484	80
PNG	5	9	47	71	234	17	383	6
BRUNEI	0	0	0	281	240	158	679	8
SINGAPORE	0	0	209	611	0	0	820	3
UNITED KINGDOM	30	30	30	0	30	0	120	1
SRI LANKA	0	0	0	4645	3999	0	8644	51
PHILIPPINES	0	50	25	50	80	0	205	3
FIJI	3	150	120	369	388	325	1355	17
SWITZERLAND	0	0	0	0	24	48	72	1
VIETNAM	0	186	258	815	728	411	2398	32
THAILAND	0	0	50	3490	3294	2666	9500	32
INDIA	0	0	290	290	580	580	1740	31
INDONESIA	0	0	1500	1500	3000	0	6000	129
MALAYSIA	0	34	1275	1210	368	452	3339	226
W. SAMOA	40	40	52	42	49	56	279	6
TOTAL	4110	7626	12466	25746	33542	20270	103760	1628

Total Years 7/8	11,736		Total Year 11	33,542
Total Years 9/10	38,212		Total Year 12	20,270
Total Juniors	49,948		Total Seniors	53,812

Philosophy of Australian National Chemistry Quiz

The Quiz does not set out to test any specific science or chemistry syllabus and it is not designed to find the best chemistry student either nationally or statewide. In line with the philosophy of the promotion of chemistry it was decided that a substantial number of participants should receive an award. Further to avoid any interstate difference or country difference in syllabus content, all students compete on a grade and state or country only basis, ie. a Year 12 student only competes with Year 12 students from his/her own state or country. With these ideals in mind approximately 40% of all participants receive a Certificate of Merit. Ten percent receive a High Distinction, 15% receive a Distinction and 15% receive a Credit. The certificates are designed and printed with the view that a successful participant would be able to display the award. The certificates have the Royal Australian Chemical Institute seal and are signed by the President of the Institute and the Chairman of the Australian National Chemistry Quiz.

Certificates of Excellence which consists of a certificate and a plaque are awarded to students who score 100% in the Quiz. An Award of Excellence consisting of a plaque is given to students for outstanding results. In Australia, the Certificates of Excellence, Awards of Excellence and Certificates are presented to the winners by chemists who visit the school and make the presentation. This is a further mechanism to allow the Royal Australian Chemical Institute to promote chemistry and chemists at the high school. In Western Samoa in 1997 the awards were presented by the Australian High Commissioner, H. E. David Hegarty.

Momentos

All participants in the Quiz receives a Participation Certificate and other momentos which promote the role of chemistry. Each year the Quiz has had a promotional slogan which has been incorporated into a variety of decals and book marks. Slogans include:

• Chemists have solutions.
• Chemistry is the Central Science.
• What in the World Isn t Chemistry?
• Chemistry Working for a Better Tomorrow.
• Chemists are Reactive Scientists.
• Chemistry Serving the Australian Community.
• Chemistry Bonding the Asian Pacific Region.
• Chemistry--Caring for the Earth.
• Chemistry is Life.
• It s a Chemical World.
• Discover the World Through Chemistry.

Small and large Periodic Tables have also been produced and given to entrants in the Quiz.

The "Australian Chemistry Resource Book"

As well as the promotional material given to entrants the important role of the school teacher in running the Quiz at the school is recognised by the presentation of the 'Australian Chemistry Resource Book'. The Resource Book provides a wide variety of education information on many aspects of chemistry--from interesting demonstrations to industrial applications. It has been described by Professor Jim O Donnell as the 'Reader s Digest of Australian Chemistry', and is an important medium of communication between the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and school teachers. It provides an opportunity for the members of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute to contribute to the teaching of chemistry in schools.

Comments in Questionnaire on the 1999 Australian National Chemistry Quiz

• We believe the Chemistry Quiz to be so relevant we pay the entry fee for all students from Science Department funds so participation is almost 100%.
• Motivates my seniors to start revising early. Helps in the end of the year revision and external examination.
• The students who participate enjoy the challenge and they are motivated to sign up. Supported by parents who pay the entry fee if they won't.
• Very worthwhile for students. Gives their confidence a boost.
• Congratulations to the organisers. The Quiz has improved my students' abilities in answering Chemistry (in English). Encourages them to have interests in Chemistry.
• Great Idea. Useful benchmark. Keep up the good work. Really appreciate the Resource Book.
• A great way of introducing students to Chemistry.
• Keep up the good work.
• Keep up the Excellent Standard in all aspects.
• A well organised competition! A pleasure to participate.
• A new and enjoyable experience for all of us. I'm sure our results will improve with more time.
• Parents encourage participation and students are enthusiastic.
• The kids enjoyed it and the Certificates and small periodic tables are great.
• I think the Quiz is good value and the periodic table is an excellent memento.
• The Certificate with the names of students are attractive and highly valued by them.
• Doing a great job mate, I don't know how you keep it up.
• Thank you for your superb organisation and help with problems such as incorrect names due to student error.
• It's great!! Our top students have really gained in their perception of their own ability and Chemistry.
• Excellent. Thanks for permitting us to participate.
• Thanks again Charles. Particularly your reminder that we forgot to enter.

Conclusion

The Australian National Chemistry Quiz has now clearly established itself as an important activity in the operations of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and in the school calendar of many secondary schools. A measure of the acceptance of the general school community can clearly be assessed by its increasing enrolment from year to year and those associated with its continued operation have found it a most worthwhile experience.

Additional information may be obtained by visiting the following net sites.

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