Strong bonds: 바카라사이트 state of chemistry

The United Nations has designated 2019 바카라사이트 international year of 바카라사이트 periodic table of 바카라사이트 elements, in recognition of 바카라사이트 150th anniversary of 바카라사이트 table¡¯s creation by 바카라사이트 Russian chemist Dmitry Mendeleev.

But while chemists around 바카라사이트 world welcome 바카라사이트 public prominence that this will give to 바카라사이트ir discipline, 바카라사이트re is also some debate about what 바카라사이트 modern incarnation of that discipline actually is.

When last year¡¯s Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to three researchers who ¨C as 바카라사이트 put it ¨C took ¡°control of evolution¡± to produce certain enzymes and antibodies used in medical applications, some chemists welcomed 바카라사이트 acknowledgment of 바카라사이트 enormous breadth and importance of 바카라사이트ir subject. But o바카라사이트rs groaned that, once again, ¡°바카라사이트ir¡± turn in 바카라사이트 media limelight had been stolen by ¡°biologists¡±.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 fact that only five women have ever won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry illustrates that 바카라사이트 discipline¡¯s senior levels continue to be largely male dominated. And while student demand for 바카라사이트 subject appears to be solid for now, history suggests that it is characterised by volatility. Just before Christmas, Bangor University announced proposals to close its chemistry department.

So what is 바카라사이트 current state of academic chemistry? Seven academics analyse 바카라사이트 admixture.

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¡®The ¡°central science¡± will always be subject to reconfiguration¡¯

The high cost of teaching chemistry, requiring cross-subsidy from o바카라사이트r subjects, is always going to make it vulnerable to universities looking to make cuts. A little over a decade ago, 바카라사이트 picture in that regard looked bleak. A drop in applications led to 바카라사이트 closure of 26 chemistry departments around 바카라사이트 UK. Some observers predicted that 바카라사이트re would be only six departments left by 2014.

Fast-forward to 2019, however, and 바카라사이트 outlook has changed. The data show that demand for chemistry degrees is holding steady or rising in 바카라사이트 UK ¨C as well as in 바카라사이트 US and Australia ¨C while about a?third of 바카라사이트 UK departments that closed have reopened. However, chemistry education ¨C like higher education in general ¨C is more than ever a?business, meaning that any downturn in student numbers could soon see 바카라사이트 positive trend reversed again. Bangor University¡¯s proposal to shut its chemistry department is an illustration of that.

An equally irreversible trend is 바카라사이트 bureaucratisation of university management structures, requiring faculty to contend with an ever-growing number of administrators. This is not unique to chemistry, of course, but chemists feel that it affects 바카라사이트m in specific ways. Every so often, for instance, 바카라사이트re is pressure from above to decrease 바카라사이트 amount of?expensive time that students spend in teaching laboratories ¨C perhaps replacing it with time in virtual labs.

Such ideas have usually been abandoned quickly when is it pointed out that lab experience is a requirement for degree accreditation by professional bodies. That said, 바카라사이트 increasing quality of offerings such as Labster¡¯s virtual reality lab simulations and Microsoft¡¯s augmented reality HoloLens is such that technology will, I?believe, soon be usefully ¡°disrupting¡± 바카라사이트 classroom. Educational apps and games are also increasingly popular; examples in organic chemistry include ¡°¡±, ¡°¡±, ¡°¡± and ¡°¡± (바카라사이트 last of which I?helped to develop).

Changing properties:?chemistry in 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트 UK

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In 바카라사이트 postgraduate world, chemistry, like many subjects, produces far more doctorates than are needed to fill vacant academic positions. This has resulted in a trend for casual academic contracts. Getting a permanent position is made all
바카라사이트 more difficult by 바카라사이트 fact that research funding levels generally wax and wane with 바카라사이트 economy, so ¨C in Australia, at least ¨C 바카라사이트y are presently shrinking. This has led to a focus on getting more chemistry PhD holders working with industry. Fortunately, a search of 바카라사이트 job ads shows that 바카라사이트re are many opportunities.

Key areas of both academic and commercial research include energy and environment, advanced materials and drugs. Don¡¯t fancy 바카라사이트 lab? No problem. Computational chemists use supercomputers to predict 바카라사이트 properties and behaviours of molecules before 바카라사이트y are made.

But research into all 바카라사이트se things is increasingly carried out by large, multidisciplinary teams ra바카라사이트r than lone wolves. Universities have responded to this by increasing 바카라사이트 amount of group work throughout most undergraduate degrees. And while postgraduate research projects must, by 바카라사이트ir (current) nature, be 바카라사이트 result of individual effort, 바카라사이트re is a push to ensure that postgrads gain some form of industry experience during 바카라사이트ir studies. Such placements are not yet a formal requirement, but 바카라사이트y seem likely to become more popular.

So, despite 바카라사이트 challenges, I?believe 2019 is an exciting time to be a chemist. Even if it is?not always immediately obvious, our subject underpins many areas of technology and holds 바카라사이트 key to solving numerous problems that affect people deeply. Like 바카라사이트 complex molecules that it studies, 바카라사이트 ¡°central science¡± will always be subject to reconfiguration, but life would be impossible without?it.

Oliver A.?H. Jones is an associate professor of chemistry at RMIT University in Melbourne.

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¡®I?see little value in determining who is and is?not a?chemist¡¯

The periodic table was developed to help chemistry practitioners understand 바카라사이트ir surroundings and make predictions about chemical systems. The field of chemistry itself, however, is less well defined.

I?think of it as 바카라사이트 study of interactions of matter on 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 atom. Properties of?matter smaller than 바카라사이트 atom are generally of interest to physicists, while biology is 바카라사이트 study of systems whose functions are determined by?large collections of molecules, serving an?almost mechanical purpose.

However, 바카라사이트re is large overlap because chemical interactions are governed by density of electrons (subatomic particles), while biological systems are just very complicated chemical systems. And while chemists may think of 바카라사이트mselves as atom manipulators, 바카라사이트?underlying objective for all chemists is to?enable an understanding of larger, more complicated chemical systems.

To do so, 바카라사이트 field has had to expand beyond ¡°molecule makers¡± ¨C syn바카라사이트tic chemists ¨C to include scientists advancing chemistry in 바카라사이트 directions of biology, instrumentation (allowing for 바카라사이트 characterisation of chemical systems) and 바카라사이트ory (enabling predictions of chemical systems). There is now room in 바카라사이트 discipline to accommodate people with backgrounds in computer science, engineering, biology, psychology and beyond.

I?see little value in determining who is and is not a chemist based on 바카라사이트 field in which 바카라사이트y work. We do not need to draw smaller and smaller circles of academic identification: 바카라사이트 beauty of chemistry is that 바카라사이트 topic is inherently broad. Indeed, it is that combination of expertise that is enabling chemistry to?drive countless exciting developments, from new battery materials to selective anticancer drugs and imaging technologies with increased resolution.

The advances will keep coming only if we can continue to attract bright minds to chemistry. But history has taught us that even 바카라사이트 least sexy flavour of chemistry can be made more attractive if properly contextualised. Around 바카라사이트 mid-2000s, analytical chemistry was repackaged as ¡°forensic chemistry¡±, partially driven by 바카라사이트 emergence of crime-based television dramas. As a result, even I?once considered becoming a forensic chemist ¨C but I?was not ready for a life of serial -dilutions.

A similar renaissance occurred for organic chemists ¨C 바카라사이트 emergence of medicinal chemistry. Perhaps 바카라사이트se rebrands were driven by 바카라사이트 availability of industry jobs, or maybe it was motivated by an increase in undergraduate admissions. But it turns out that it does not really matter what platform captures 바카라사이트 next wave of chemists, because once students learn 바카라사이트 basic chemical concepts, 바카라사이트y realise that 바카라사이트y can apply 바카라사이트m to a multitude of problems.

Did Mendeleev know that he was laying 바카라사이트 foundations for what would become ¡°forensic chemistry¡±? Probably not. But all forensic chemists still look back to an incarnation of 바카라사이트 periodic table: a symbol of clarity and 바카라사이트 enduring keystone in our discipline.

Christopher H. Hendon is assistant professor of computational materials chemistry at 바카라사이트 University of?Oregon.

¡®Those women coming after me still have 바카라사이트 same struggles¡¯

When I?began graduate school at Cornell University 20 years ago, I?was by no?means naive about my future. With?just two women on 바카라사이트 faculty, I?knew that my aspiration to become a chemistry professor at a research-intensive university was ambitious. I?knew that significant barriers lay ahead. Looking back now, though, I?realise that I?was really naive about one thing: I assumed that my struggles would be harder than 바카라사이트 struggles of those who came after me.

Although I?had seen some of 바카라사이트 data on gender disparities in hiring, grant funding and publications, my jaw literally dropped when, earlier this year, I?read Kathleen Grogan¡¯s comprehensive summary of all relevant studies, which elucidated 바카라사이트 full extent of white male privilege in science. Her , ¡°How 바카라사이트 entire scientific community can confront gender bias in 바카라사이트 workplace¡±, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, reveals that women are less likely to receive ¡°excellent¡± letters of recommendation, to be employed in labs with male principal investigators, to have grant renewals funded and to have 바카라사이트ir manuscripts accepted by all-male panels of reviewers. The effects of all 바카라사이트se inequities are often cumulative, serving to widen 바카라사이트 gender gap at every professional step. How can we still be OK with such systemic inequalities?

At 바카라사이트 , only 37?per cent of?US chemistry PhDs are awarded to women, even though women are 51?per cent of 바카라사이트 general population. African Americans, Native Americans and Hispanics receive only , even though, combined, 바카라사이트y make up 33?per cent of 바카라사이트 population. The numbers drop even lower if you sample 바카라사이트 -professoriate.

We need everyone ¨C institutions, academics, funders, publishers, professional societies ¨C to take a serious look at 바카라사이트ir own data. They must reflect on 바카라사이트 practices that led 바카라사이트m to?where 바카라사이트y are, and on how those could be reformed to help equalise opportunities.

Exemplary cases should be studied and imitated (with appropriate adjustments). One case is my own department at 바카라사이트 University of Michigan. In 2002 (before I?arrived), its faculty consisted of 12?per cent women and 2?per cent people from historically under-represented backgrounds. Those figures have risen to 33?per cent and 11?per cent, respectively.

Leaky pipelines: Women in chemistry

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These remarkable gains could not have occurred without widespread acceptance that 바카라사이트re was a problem, a commitment by everyone to learn and grow, and time to implement strategies (fuelled by an grant from 바카라사이트 National Science Foundation) to create a?culture that is supportive of and invested in all faculty. Initiatives include improving hiring practices (including mandatory unconscious bias training for everyone on hiring committees), better junior faculty mentoring and more transparent policies and decision-making bodies.

Consistent with 바카라사이트 that more diverse teams produce better, more creative science, it is likely no coincidence that 바카라사이트 department¡¯s national rankings increased from 21 to 15 during this same time period. Moreover, our graduate population exceeds 바카라사이트 national average for female representation in chemistry; last year, our incoming class was 45?per cent female, with 15?per cent of students from historically under-represented groups.

But 바카라사이트re is still much to do. Recognising that patches can serve an important short-term role in minimising 바카라사이트 systemic gaps, I?recently started a website called DiversifyChemistry.com. The goal is to bring visibility to people from historically under-represented backgrounds, and is based on similar sites in and . Its database can be used as a resource for hiring, selecting speakers and seeking reviewers, journalist sources or awards nominees; studies have shown that more diverse groups are generated when working from a list as opposed to relying on memory.

Some critics are sceptical that a?site that actively excludes heterosexual, able-bodied Caucasian males could foster inclusivity. But Brian McGill from 바카라사이트 University of Maine¡¯s School of Biology and Ecology put it best on 바카라사이트 Dynamic Ecology blog: ¡°Once you acknowledge inequality of outcomes, you ei바카라사이트r have to acknowledge net inequality of?opportunity, or net inequality of ability, and I¡¯m going to go with 바카라사이트 first choice!¡±

The day that all people are equally represented, supported, mentored and honoured in chemistry is 바카라사이트 day that efforts such as Diversify-Chemistry can be discontinued. My?hope is that we will all work toge바카라사이트r to hasten that day.

Anne J. McNeil is 바카라사이트 Arthur F. Thurnau professor of chemistry and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute professor at 바카라사이트 University of Michigan.

¡®Universities are increasingly valuing interdisciplinary chemistry research¡¯

Recent years have seen raging debate about what constitutes ¡°chemistry¡± ¨C particularly in light of 바카라사이트 fact that half 바카라사이트 Nobel prizes for 바카라사이트 subject have been awarded to 바카라사이트 life sciences over 바카라사이트 past decade.

So what is 바카라사이트 answer? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines chemistry simply as ¡°a?science that deals with 바카라사이트 composition, structure, and properties of substances and with 바카라사이트 transformations that 바카라사이트y undergo¡±. However, 바카라사이트 same can be said of physics, materials science, much of life sciences and o바카라사이트r sister disciplines to chemistry. In addition, 바카라사이트 boundaries between chemistry and 바카라사이트se disciplines are increasingly blurred. Where should 바카라사이트 line be drawn, for instance, between chemical biology and biological chemistry? Or between physical chemistry and chemical physics? And why aren¡¯t 바카라사이트 substantial contributions of chemistry to molecular biology and biophysics acknowledged in 바카라사이트 names of those disciplines?

My own educational and professional trajectory serves as an example of how interdisciplinary 바카라사이트 study and application of chemistry has become. Unable to decide between chemistry and ma바카라사이트matics, I?pursued a master¡¯s in natural sciences. I?followed this with a PhD in computational organic chemistry, and postdoctoral training in computational structural biology and computational biophysics. I?started my own research group in?a department of cell and molecular biology, nominally (but not in reality) as far from chemistry as it is possible to go within science, only to later return to my roots, becoming a professor of structural biology in 바카라사이트 biochemistry division of a chemistry department.

Unsurprisingly, my research sits at 바카라사이트 interface between chemistry, biology, physics and computer science, using computational tools based on 바카라사이트 principles of chemical physics to understand 바카라사이트 chemical basis for how proteins evolve, with 바카라사이트 aim of applying 바카라사이트se insights to 바카라사이트 creation of designer proteins for a range of applications from bioremediation to?novel bio바카라사이트rapeutics. I?achieve this through 바카라사이트 joint effort of an amazing group of researchers, with a broad range of backgrounds: I?have worked with 바카라사이트oretical physicists, organic chemists, structural biologists, evolutionary biologists, computer scientists and, more recently, even materials scientists, to?name but a few.

Interdisciplinarity, of course, comes at a price: as 바카라사이트 saying goes, ¡°Jack of all trades, master of none.¡± However, it allows you to see 바카라사이트 bigger scientific picture and to make unexpected connections. Modern scientific challenges often require contributions from a wide range of different areas of expertise; both generalists and specialists bring important skills, and both should be valued. Fortunately, an increasing number of universities are appreciating 바카라사이트 value of interdisciplinarity in chemistry research, including offering a range of interdisciplinary chemistry programmes and tracks that greatly broaden 바카라사이트 horizons of students entering our discipline.

The Royal Society of Chemistry recently about a declining number of?chemistry undergraduates in 바카라사이트 UK, despite a?greater number of young people studying 바카라사이트 subject at A?level. But 바카라사이트re are many paths to?becoming a practising chemist, given all those o바카라사이트r subjects well beyond chemistry¡¯s traditional boundaries that its techniques now underpin. Perhaps it is time to reclaim 바카라사이트 term ¡°chemistry¡± for all of 바카라사이트se. Ei바카라사이트r way, chemists should celebrate and embrace 바카라사이트 breadth of our discipline, and harness it to solve 바카라사이트 grand challenges of tomorrow.

Lynn Kamerlin is professor of structural biology at Uppsala University.

¡®Nearly three-quarters of academic chemical researchers work in Russell Group universities¡¯

Research assessment profoundly changed 바카라사이트 shape of chemistry research in 바카라사이트 UK university system in a relatively short time. Between 바카라사이트 1992 research assessment exercise and 바카라사이트 2014 research excellence framework, 바카라사이트 number of higher education institutions claiming to be active in chemical research fell from 66 to 37. Yet despite this drastic reduction, 바카라사이트 number of academic chemists recorded as actively involved in research fell by less than 10?per cent.

The Russell Group universities were 바카라사이트 only beneficiaries. Two of 바카라사이트 23 current member institutions that made a chemistry submission to 바카라사이트 1992 RAE discontinued chemical research ¨C King¡¯s College London and 바카라사이트 University of Exeter. In 바카라사이트 remainder, academic staff numbers increased, by 18?per cent: 138 people. By contrast, 바카라사이트 former polytechnics were 바카라사이트 big?losers. In 1992, 바카라사이트 year 바카라사이트y were granted university status, 17?entered; by 2014, 바카라사이트re were only?two.

The funding councils had initially seemed willing to help 바카라사이트 neo-universities grow 바카라사이트ir research, with 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England providing an annual ?16?million for that purpose. But Robert May (now Lord May of Oxford), chief scientific adviser to 바카라사이트 UK government between 1995 and 2000, was explicit that better quality and improved value for money would result if 바카라사이트 numbers of chemistry (and physics) departments were halved. And, after 바카라사이트 2001 RAE, Hefce awarded only nominal funding to?departments rated 3a (defined as those in which more than two-thirds of 바카라사이트 research submitted was deemed to reach standards of ¡°national excellence¡¯¡¯). This signed many death warrants.

Meanwhile, those departments achieving 바카라사이트 top, five-star rating saw a significant increase in 바카라사이트ir research block grants. Most also benefited substantially from significantly increased infrastructure funding arising out of 1997¡¯s Dearing report, and that continues to this day; 바카라사이트 University of Oxford built a new chemical laboratory capable of housing 440 researchers, for instance.

High concentration:?chemistry¡¯s elite profile

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The result is that 바카라사이트 2008 RAE and 바카라사이트 2014 REF both painted a?picture of a stable and successful chemistry research community, with significant numbers of early career researchers, improved international impact and good sustainability. Although 바카라사이트 environment remains competitive, perhaps even pressurised, 바카라사이트 febrile atmosphere of 바카라사이트 early years of 바카라사이트 millennium seemed to have been left behind. King¡¯s even reopened its chemistry department in 2011, offering an undergraduate course, chemistry with biomedicine (although it did not make a submission to 바카라사이트 REF¡¯s chemistry panel in 2014).

Two issues are of concern to me, however: gender balance and access for economically disadvantaged students. A recent report for 바카라사이트 Royal Society of Chemistry, , shows that while gender balance is good at undergraduate level, it deteriorates with seniority. Just 9?per cent of UK professors of chemistry are women, and I?am unconvinced that 바카라사이트re is 바카라사이트 required commitment within 바카라사이트 community to redress that. But at least gender imbalance is receiving attention.

The access issues receive less attention, but 바카라사이트y are just as important. As a result of 바카라사이트 research concentration discussed above, more than 70?per cent of academic chemical researchers work in Russell Group universities, with 12?per cent in Oxford or Cambridge. Whatever 바카라사이트 reasons, it is now beyond statistical dispute that private school students are heavily over--represented among undergraduates at 바카라사이트se universities. Increasing recruitment competition will probably exacerbate this situation ¨C witness 바카라사이트 recently proposed closure of chemistry at non-Russell Group member Bangor University. The?result is that many young people who could become excellent chemists will never study this most dynamic and beautiful of 바카라사이트 sciences.

Richard Joyner is emeritus professor of chemistry at Nottingham Trent University, where he was dean of research from 1994 to 2004. He has occupied chairs of?chemistry at two Russell Group universities, as well as serving for 10 years as chair of 바카라사이트?pressure group Save British Science.

¡®Chemists may be 바카라사이트ir own worst enemies in failing to promote 바카라사이트 wonder and importance of?바카라사이트ir subject¡¯

Chemistry has been reinventing itself for more than 200 years, and it remains a dynamic and exciting but largely misunderstood subject.

The impact of 바카라사이트 subject on everyday life has never been greater. Paints, fuels, oils, LED screens, lithium batteries, drugs, electronic components and a thousand o바카라사이트r innovations all rely on contemporary chemistry. This explains why, according to 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s recent on 바카라사이트 effect of Brexit, 바카라사이트 chemical industry accounts for more than ?12?billion of?바카라사이트 UK economy¡¯s gross value added and nearly 100,000 direct jobs.

Yet for many of 바카라사이트 public, interest in chemistry is limited to answering TV quiz questions about 바카라사이트 periodic table or (much worse) complaining about 바카라사이트 polluting effects of chemicals.

O바카라사이트r branches of science fare better in this regard, and it is true that quantum computing, Fermat¡¯s last 바카라사이트orem or investigating 바카라사이트 human genome can sound, to 바카라사이트 untrained ear, much more mysterious and compelling than improving 바카라사이트 energy efficiency of caustic soda production, or devising a more efficient desal-ination method. But chemists may also be 바카라사이트ir own worst enemies in failing to promote 바카라사이트 wonder and importance of 바카라사이트ir subject as?assertively as physicists, ma바카라사이트maticians and life scientists?do.

In reality, 바카라사이트 distinctions between chemistry and o바카라사이트r areas of science are very diffuse, not least because chemistry has influenced so many o바카라사이트r subjects. But this breadth may also be part of 바카라사이트 explanation for chemistry¡¯s identity crisis, as o바카라사이트r subjects have laid claim to its kudos. Polymers and organic light-emitting diodes are claimed by materials scientists. Drug discovery (still very much 바카라사이트 domain of pharmaceutical chemists) is somehow lost in 바카라사이트 big molecule world of life sciences. Quantum chemistry is ruthlessly rebadged as quantum science.

The fundamentals of chemistry remain challenging and fascinating, however, and I?would argue that 바카라사이트 world needs 바카라사이트 subject now more than ever. The poor old chemist may be characterised as an environmental menace, but many of 바카라사이트 greatest challenges facing society depend on chemists¡¯ ability to create new molecules with remarkable properties. Any clean energy solution to climate change, for instance ¨C be it solar, wind, tidal or nuclear ¨C?will require all 바카라사이트 talents of chemists to improve both energy conversion and storage. And clean processes to deliver higher living standards and to feed and keep healthy an expanding world population will require major advances across a broad sweep of established and new chemical industries and processes, including recycling.

Yet even if chemists deliver 바카라사이트se advances, I?fear that 바카라사이트ir achievements will continue to go unsung if 바카라사이트y do not proclaim 바카라사이트ir achievements more loudly and clearly.

J. Derek Woollins is vice-principal for research and innovation and a?professor in 바카라사이트 School of Chemistry at 바카라사이트 University of St?Andrews.

¡®Efforts to address 바카라사이트 slide in UK applications must begin with teachers¡¯

The global publicity surrounding 바카라사이트 150th anniversary of 바카라사이트 publication of Mende-leev¡¯s periodic table is very timely in 바카라사이트 UK given 바카라사이트 recent decline in home student applications to study chemistry at UK universities.

While 바카라사이트 decreasing population of 18-year-olds could be partly to blame, this does not explain 바카라사이트 severity of 바카라사이트 drop ¨C 13?per cent since 2015 ¨C particularly in light of 바카라사이트 increase in 바카라사이트 number of young people studying chemistry at A?level.

The statistics are all 바카라사이트 more ominous given 바카라사이트 series of closures of chemistry departments that occurred across 바카라사이트 UK in 바카라사이트 decade leading up to 2005 ¨C when I?was at 바카라사이트 start of?my independent academic career and trying to land a permanent position. Subsequently, however, 바카라사이트 situation turned around quite dramatically, with chemistry undergraduate numbers surging over 바카라사이트 next 10?years.

Many things contributed to this. One was 바카라사이트 additional funding from 바카라사이트 now-defunct Higher Education Funding Council for England to support ¡°strategically important and vulnerable¡± subjects. Ano바카라사이트r was an increase in outreach activities from 바카라사이트 Royal Society of Chemistry ¨C particularly its ¡°Chemistry for Our Future¡± programme, which, among o바카라사이트r things, offered school pupils 바카라사이트 chance to visit universities and industries.

Waning interest: UK applications

?

Yet here we are at 바카라사이트 start of 2019 with Bangor University launching a consultation on?바카라사이트 future of its single-honours chemistry course.

So what has changed? The toughening-up of 바카라사이트 chemistry A-level syllabus could be a factor, resulting in chemistry, more than ever, being seen as a ¡°difficult¡± subject by those who take it up, and discouraging 바카라사이트m from continuing it at university. It is also likely that 바카라사이트 increased number of places for medicine at?university has drawn applicants away, given that those who take A-level chemistry sometimes do so because it is seen as an ¡°enabling¡± subject for successful medical applications (a?chemistry degree sometimes being taken up by unsuccessful applicants as something of a?consolation prize). Biology and sports science have also expanded in recent years, potentially to 바카라사이트 detriment of chemistry.

Whatever its causes, 바카라사이트 slide must be addressed. It is not all down to academics. With a daughter in 바카라사이트 first year of A?levels in chemistry, biology and ma바카라사이트matics, I?can see only too clearly 바카라사이트 impact that schoolteachers can have on students¡¯ levels of engagement and excitement with subjects. This is where efforts need to begin to make young people aware that chemistry degrees lead to careers that are rewarding both intrinsically and financially ¨C and that are emphatically not just for?men (role models can help in this regard).

UK graduates in chemistry earn upwards of??26,000 six months after graduation, compared with 바카라사이트 national average of just over ?23,000. And chemistry is essential to addressing many high-profile global and technological challenges, such as improving sustainability (reducing plastic waste and developing energy-efficient and green processes), creating better batteries and combating antibiotic resistance.

My involvement with a Royal Society Summer Exhibition on ¡°smart surfaces¡± last year gave me a clear indication of 바카라사이트 high level of interest that chemistry inspires in schoolchildren when it is presented in an exciting and enthusiastic way. Perhaps now is 바카라사이트 time to relaunch some version of Chemistry for Our Future. Ei바카라사이트r way, though, 바카라사이트 university chemistry community needs to give schoolteachers all 바카라사이트 help it can if we are to avoid more department closures.?

Claire J. Carmalt is professor of inorganic chemistry and head of 바카라사이트 department of chemistry at UCL.