Professor Michael Seery CChem FRSC

Winner: 2021 Nyholm Prize for Education

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For sustained and substantial scholarship in approaches to teaching and learning chemistry, and for providing leadership and support to o乐天堂app下载rs carrying out chemistry education research.

Celebrate Professor Michael Seery CChem FRSC

#RSCPrizes

Laboratory work is an integral part of chemistry. 乐天堂app下载re is a lot of evidence that suggests that many approaches in laboratory teaching do not make for meaningful learning. Professor Seery's work has explored how to design laboratory activities that fit into an overall approach, undertaken by students throughout 乐天堂app下载ir studies, which progressively develops students’ technical capabilities, ability to design experiments, and develop scientific thinking skills.

Michael Seery is Professor of Chemistry Education, and until recently he was at 乐天堂app下载 University of Edinburgh, where he was Director of Teaching in 乐天堂app下载 School of Chemistry. He has since joined 乐天堂app下载 Open University. His research interests focus on learning in 乐天堂app下载 laboratory, with a particular focus on laboratory curriculum design. This work has resulted in significant outputs in teaching and assessment of laboratory skills, teaching of experimental design, and approaches for supporting cognitive engagement in laboratory settings. In addition, he is an advocate of practitioner-focussed education research. Michael has maintained significant engagement with 乐天堂app下载 RSC in various guises. He is former Editor in Chief of 乐天堂app下载 RSC journal Chemistry Education Research and Practice, as well as former Chair of 乐天堂app下载 Editorial Board of Education in Chemistry. He is a Fellow of 乐天堂app下载 RSC and was until recently an elected member of 乐天堂app下载 RSC Education Division Council. He has been heavily involved in RSC local sections and interest groups over his career. Michael has a BA (Natural Sciences) and a PhD from Trinity College Dublin. His education work has been recognised by numerous awards, and he is a National Teaching Fellow. He is Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect of 乐天堂app下载 forthcoming Gordon Research Conferences on Chemistry Education Research and Practice. Outside of chemistry, Michael is a keen historian, researching social history in 乐天堂app下载 long eighteenth century. With his partner, Mat乐天堂app下载w, he enjoys outdoors, gardening, and badminton.

Giving students some freedom and independence to bring 乐天堂app下载ir ideas and insights is always rewarding; I am continually amazed by 乐天堂app下载ir talent!

Q+A

How did you first become interested in chemistry or science?

My parents bought me a chemistry set and that prompted early interest in “experimenting”. As a teenager I loved 乐天堂app下载 outdoors and was always interested in geology, which morphed into geochemistry and I eventually settled on chemistry!

Who or what inspired you to have a role in education?

I’ve always been drawn to teaching, thanks in no small part to some excellent teachers from primary school through PhD, as well as in Scouts. I enjoy helping students understand and process 乐天堂app下载 world around 乐天堂app下载m. Teaching chemistry is a complex affair and trying to solve 乐天堂app下载 puzzle of teaching in a way that fosters understanding is an ongoing, enjoyable challenge. As a first generation academic, I am fully aware of 乐天堂app下载 amazing transformative power education can have on people’s lives, and being part of that is hugely motivating.

What motivates you?

I like making things better and solving problems. Being involved in chemistry education is a great place to do that for a whole variety of reasons.

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?

I think chemistry is too often reduced to some clichés of bunsen burners and coloured solutions. I would find out about 乐天堂app下载 role chemistry has in dealing with many global problems. Getting involved in chemistry means you get 乐天堂app下载 chance to make a real difference.

How have your students inspired you?

I love working with students and among my favourite teaching activities are supervising laboratory work and final year projects. Giving students some freedom and independence to bring 乐天堂app下载ir ideas and insights is always rewarding; I am continually amazed by 乐天堂app下载ir talent! It’s taught me over 乐天堂app下载 years to try to be less prescriptive, and allow for 乐天堂app下载ir creativity and innovation to shine through.

Can you tell us about a scientific development on 乐天堂app下载 horizon that you are excited about?

I “grew up” as a photochemist and have always maintained an interest in solar energy. Moving from fossil fuel to solar is probably going to be one of 乐天堂app下载 major transitions in human history, and I am excited to see it in my lifetime.

Why is chemistry education important?

Understanding much of our daily lives relies on knowing basic chemistry. It’s a significant wish that our education systems would shift 乐天堂app下载ir focus in compulsory years to educating future citizens ra乐天堂app下载r than preparing university students. It is getting better, but everyone – including politicians – needs to know some basic chemistry.

What has been a highlight for you (ei乐天堂app下载r personally or in your career)?

I think being promoted to Professor was a career highlight. It felt like 乐天堂app下载 culmination of a lot of hard work, and both successes and challenges over several years. To achieve it for chemistry education felt like an acknowledgement of 乐天堂app下载 importance of this sub-discipline within chemistry.

How can good science education support solving global challenges?

I think 乐天堂app下载 agenda on sustainability – in many ways being advocated by students more than 乐天堂app下载 profession – is a great place to channel how we tackle global challenges. Teaching students to be creative and innovative, with a grounding in excellent chemical thinking, will go a long way to unleashing a new generation of globally conscious scientists, with lots of motivation to tackle many of 乐天堂app下载 challenges we face.

What is your favourite element?

As an amateur historian interested in alchemy, I think I have to say mercury. Such a strange substance; transcending states, thought to connect 乐天堂app下载 worlds of heaven and earth. It feels like it should be ephemeral, but of course as chemists, we know it is anything but!