New Perspectives in Science Education
The Potentials of Nanoscience for the Implementation of an Education for Sustainable Development in Chemistry Class
Janina Dege, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry Education, Tammannstrasse 4, D-37077 Göttingen (Germany)
Nele Milsch, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry Education, Tammannstrasse 4, D-37077 Göttingen (Germany)
Thomas Waitz, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry Education, Tammannstrasse 4, D-37077 Göttingen (Germany) (Germany)
Abstract
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is an interdisciplinary educational concept affecting the three dimensions economy, ecology and social issues. It is more specifically aiming to enable students ‘to constructively and creatively address present and future global challenges and create more sustainable and resilient societies’ [1]. The subject chemistry plays an important role in the implementation of this concept in school settings [2]. Especially the topic nanotechnology, as an interdisciplinary research field relating to all three dimensions of sustainability, is particularly suited to support an ESD [3]. Additionally, it provides a lot of controversies as well as opportunities for discussions, because on the one hand the effects of the utilization of nanomaterials in everyday life items have not been sufficiently investigated yet and on the other hand it offers new solutions for the protection of the climate and ensures a more sufficient energy supply [4].
In order to support a nanotechnology-based ESD and implement it into school settings, a project called ‘NanoBiNE’ (BNE is the German acronym for ESD), funded by the German Federal Environmental Foundation, was initiated. In this context a project team comprised of scientists from four different cities in northern Germany was formed. Within this contribution, we present the main goals of this project and how they are being implemented into schools, student laboratories as well as teacher trainings.
References
References:
[1] UNESCO, Education for Sustainable Development, http://en.unesco.org/themes/education-sustainable-development [16.11.2016]. [2] Burmeister, M., Rauch, F., Eilks, I., Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and chemistry education, Chem. Educ. Res. Pract. 13 (2), 2012, p. 59. [3] Nonninger, R., Dege, J., Wilke, T., Waitz, T., Nanoscience Education in School Chemistry – Perspectives for Curricular Innovations in Context of an Education for a Sustainable Development. In: Global Perspectives of Nanoscience and Engineering, edited by Winkelmann, K., Bhushan, B., Switzerland, Springer, 2016, pp. 237-274. [4] Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, nano.DE-Report 2013. Status quo der Nanotechnologie in Deutschland, 2013.
