Teaching responsible chemistry: a challenge-based learning framework for the implementation of RRI courses in tertiary chemistry education

Responsible Research & Innovation (RRI) is a concept of professional attitude and agency in the context of innovation with significant expected societal and environmental impact. Yet, the realisation of RRI’s goals faces several methodological and structural difficulties, among them the insuffic...

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Main Author: Mehlich Jan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: De Gruyter 2024-11-01
Series:Chemistry Teacher International
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1515/cti-2024-0022
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author Mehlich Jan
author_facet Mehlich Jan
author_sort Mehlich Jan
collection DOAJ
description Responsible Research & Innovation (RRI) is a concept of professional attitude and agency in the context of innovation with significant expected societal and environmental impact. Yet, the realisation of RRI’s goals faces several methodological and structural difficulties, among them the insufficient implementation of RRI education in STEM majors at higher education institutions. This paper proposes a course concept that aims at filling a gap in the translation of RRI principles into tertiary chemistry education practice. Employing a challenge-based learning (CBL) approach, it draws on a practical framework of RRI as orientation for professional conduct in the context of chemistry (academic research, chemical engineering, and corporate R&D). The highly practical course – with lectures reduced to a minimum – is thematically structured around a fictitious innovation project as it may happen in real-world contexts, potentially in cooperation with local chemical companies and industry. Students form teams, define roles and shared values, identify a challenge of their interest, and are guided through developing and validating a solution. The CBL fashion is expected to lead to a high engagement with the course content, a clear realisation of the practical significance and applicability of the acquired skills, and a change in attitude towards normative dimensions of chemical science and innovation activities. The designated course objectives are the formation of normative literacy, the shaping of professional integrity and good scientific practice, the strengthening of discourse performance skills, and the ability of interdisciplinary collaboration in multi-stakeholder settings.
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spelling doaj-art-923614adee2f46b89f9c0e8132e78f5f2025-02-02T15:45:10ZengDe GruyterChemistry Teacher International2569-32632024-11-016434134810.1515/cti-2024-0022Teaching responsible chemistry: a challenge-based learning framework for the implementation of RRI courses in tertiary chemistry educationMehlich Jan09374Center for Life Ethics, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelm-Universität Bonn, Bonn, GermanyResponsible Research & Innovation (RRI) is a concept of professional attitude and agency in the context of innovation with significant expected societal and environmental impact. Yet, the realisation of RRI’s goals faces several methodological and structural difficulties, among them the insufficient implementation of RRI education in STEM majors at higher education institutions. This paper proposes a course concept that aims at filling a gap in the translation of RRI principles into tertiary chemistry education practice. Employing a challenge-based learning (CBL) approach, it draws on a practical framework of RRI as orientation for professional conduct in the context of chemistry (academic research, chemical engineering, and corporate R&D). The highly practical course – with lectures reduced to a minimum – is thematically structured around a fictitious innovation project as it may happen in real-world contexts, potentially in cooperation with local chemical companies and industry. Students form teams, define roles and shared values, identify a challenge of their interest, and are guided through developing and validating a solution. The CBL fashion is expected to lead to a high engagement with the course content, a clear realisation of the practical significance and applicability of the acquired skills, and a change in attitude towards normative dimensions of chemical science and innovation activities. The designated course objectives are the formation of normative literacy, the shaping of professional integrity and good scientific practice, the strengthening of discourse performance skills, and the ability of interdisciplinary collaboration in multi-stakeholder settings.https://doi.org/10.1515/cti-2024-0022challenge-based learningtertiary chemistry educationnormative literacyresearch ethics
spellingShingle Mehlich Jan
Teaching responsible chemistry: a challenge-based learning framework for the implementation of RRI courses in tertiary chemistry education
Chemistry Teacher International
challenge-based learning
tertiary chemistry education
normative literacy
research ethics
title Teaching responsible chemistry: a challenge-based learning framework for the implementation of RRI courses in tertiary chemistry education
title_full Teaching responsible chemistry: a challenge-based learning framework for the implementation of RRI courses in tertiary chemistry education
title_fullStr Teaching responsible chemistry: a challenge-based learning framework for the implementation of RRI courses in tertiary chemistry education
title_full_unstemmed Teaching responsible chemistry: a challenge-based learning framework for the implementation of RRI courses in tertiary chemistry education
title_short Teaching responsible chemistry: a challenge-based learning framework for the implementation of RRI courses in tertiary chemistry education
title_sort teaching responsible chemistry a challenge based learning framework for the implementation of rri courses in tertiary chemistry education
topic challenge-based learning
tertiary chemistry education
normative literacy
research ethics
url https://doi.org/10.1515/cti-2024-0022
work_keys_str_mv AT mehlichjan teachingresponsiblechemistryachallengebasedlearningframeworkfortheimplementationofrricoursesintertiarychemistryeducation