Erik Joling

Industry on microscale

a project to create a bondbetween schools and industry

UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM

Faculty of Science

7 September 2001 ECCE 2001 2

Introduction

• Chemistry in the Netherlands

• Chemical education

• Microscale chemistry

• Industry on microscale

• First results

• Conclusion

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Chemistry in the Netherlands

• World’s largest port: Rotterdam

• Home of Shell, Akzo-Nobel , DSM, Unilever

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Chemistry in the NetherlandsProduction

• Windmills (a few)

• Wooden shoes (some more)

• Flowers (lots)

• Agricultural products (#3 in value)

• Peanut butter (#2 consumer)

• Chemicals (tons)

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Chemistry in the NetherlandsIndustry

• Largest branch of industry

• 60% bulk / 40% fine

• 15% of industrial production

• 20% of industrial export

• 10% of employment

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Chemistry in the NetherlandsProblems

• Twice as much academics as in other branches

• Achilles heel: number of chemists educated

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Chemical educationFinal exams 1999

HAVO VWO

Dutch 52,257

100%

34,275

100%

Chemistry 13,871

26.5%

13,609

39.7%

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Chemical educationFinal exams 1999

HAVO VWO

Spanish 669

1.3%

471

1.4%

Physics 14,329

27.4%

16,003

46.7%

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Chemical education First-year students in 1999

University 537 (≈2%)

Higher Laboratory Education 472

Higher Vocational Education 214

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Chemical educationConsequences

• Chemical industry and government are willing to spend money!

• Schools might be adopted by companies

• Projects are initiated and supported

• AXIS-project to promote science and technology

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Chemical educationChange of doctrine

‘Studiehuis’ ≈ study-home

• independent learning

• streams

• projects

introduced summer 1998 and 1999

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Chemical educationConsequences

• Need for a real-life approach

• Need for example projects

• Need for a student oriented lab

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Microscale chemistryA project

Universiteit van Amsterdam &

Chemistry Communication Centre Foundation

November 1996 - December 1999

• glassware• low-cost heating device• manuals• training

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Microscale chemistry Training

Over 330 schools (> 50%)

600 teachers

One afternoon training• on-site• at the University

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Industry on MicroscaleGoals

3-year project

teachers in schools and chemists in industry work together

products

1. teaching materials related to real contexts

2. example projects on microscale

3. a blueprint for school-company co-operation

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Industry on Microscale Time schedule

Year 1: september 2000 - august 2001

Year 2: september 2001 - august 2002

Year 3: september 2002 - august 2003

Year 1 and 2: 5 partnerships

Year 2 and 3: 10 partnerships

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Industry on Microscale Time schedule

september formation of partnerships

january generate ideas

march workshop

march write teaching materials

august use and test teaching materials

march workshop

august conclusion

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Industry on MicroscaleEstablishing partnerships

• Contact via

former fellow students

parttime professors

• Long hierarchical lines

• No self-interest yet

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First results March 2001

Accordining to project plan:

5 partnerships

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First results March 2001

9 rejections

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First results Quest and Huizermaat

• introduction on Quest and food additives

• synthesis of banana flavour: isoamyl acetate

• synthesis of emulsifier: glycerol lactopalmitate

• visit to plant and R&D site

• preparation of yoghurt mousse

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First results Quest and Huizermaat

• change in pupils’ attitude to chemical industry

• cooperation continued

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First results Summer 2001

One partnership is not enough!

• Intensive campaign

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First results Five companies

• Quest International, Naarden

• DSM Research, Geleen

• Akzo Nobel Catalysts, Amsterdam

• Rohm and Haas, Amersfoort

• Peter Greven Nederland, Venlo

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First results Seventeen companies

More or less interested...

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ConclusionCompanies

have no stategy towards secondary education

• individual employees

• approval takes time

some change is in sight

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ConclusionSchools

are willing to join the scheme

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ConclusionThe bottom-line

Partnerships can be very fruitful

• companies

• teachers

• pupils

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Contact me

micro@chem.uva.nl

www.chem.uva.nl/chemeduc/microschaal

www.chem.uva.nl/chemeduc/presentaties/ECCE2001.pps