E-mail: j.hill@aw.latrobe.edu.au

Paper presented at the 31st Annual Session and 61st Anniversary Celebrations of the Institute of Chemistry - Ceylon: Colombo, Sri Lanka : 19 - 22 June, 2002

SUMMARY

The major challenge for 'Chemical Education' in the new millennium is to restore 'chemistry' to its former pre- eminent position as the 'central science' and, simultaneously, as one of 4 'enabling sciences'. The rank and status of chemistry among the sciences has significantly declined over the last two decades to a level where, at least in Australia, it is commonly regarded as a 'service science' - 'service' in the context of 'serving' the biological sciences. Indeed, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute has recently issued a media release quantifying this decline in chemistry status in, not only Australian Universities, but also as a core subject within the science curriculum of our secondary colleges. This paper attempts to rationalise this alarming trend and suggests future challenges involved in restoring 'Chemistry in Australia' to its deserved pre-eminent status in (global) science education.

Body of paper

• Summary
• Preamble
• The problem
• The challenge
• The solution?
• References and notes

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