ConfChem Conference on A Virtual Colloquium to Sustain and Celebrate IYC 2011 Initiatives in Global Chemical Education—The Continuing Celebration of IYC 2011: What the IUPAC Polymer Division Is Doing To Keep Things Going

Abstract

The IUPAC polymer division regards the International Year of Chemistry as a starting point for ongoing engagement with the public to better communicate the important role of polymer chemistry in serving society. Prior to that we had started a polymer division education Web site to distribute the contents of an educational CD focused on polymers. This Web site became our principal tool for IYC activities including a video and essay contest aimed at high school and university students, an international funding call, and a list of polymer division sponsored IYC events and conferences. In addition, it provides links to educational Web sites around the world, videos related to polymer scientists and polymer division award winners, and simple definitions of common polymer terms. This communication discusses the results of a student competition, an international funding call designed by national funding agencies to develop best practices for multinational research programs, and noteworthy aspects of the educational Web site and summarizes one of the invited papers to the ConfChem online conference A Virtual Colloquium to Sustain and Celebrate IYC 2011 Initiatives in Global Chemical Education, held from May 18 to June 29, 2012 and hosted by the ACS DivCHED Committee on Computers in Chemical Education (CCCE) and the IUPAC Committee on Chemistry Education.