Dr Parimal C Bhomick,
St Joseph University, Nagaland
In recent years, extreme weather events have become increasingly common, with reports of melting ice sheets in Greenland and rising sea levels causing coastal erosion and storm surges. Climate change is the underlying cause of these catastrophic events, which is a long-term shift in temperature and weather patterns that has been primarily driven by human actions, especially the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. These activities result in the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs), mainly carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane, which trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming.
Chemistry plays a significant role in our lives, from the production of everyday items such as soap, toothpaste, and pharmaceuticals to materials like plastic, paints, and perfumes. However, the creation of these materials can also lead to climate change. Therefore, it is important for chemists to understand how to design safe and sustainable materials using the principles of green chemistry and sustainable chemistry. Green Chemistry aims to carry out chemical reactions in an environmentally friendly way by reducing or eliminating toxic substances and preventing pollution. Meanwhile, sustainable chemistry is based on the concept of a circular economy, cradle-to-grave thinking, and system thinking, which can help tackle the issue of climate change. Of which system thinking is an important tool for chemistry education. Generally, "systems thinking" refers to the holistic approach of examining complex problems and systems from the perspective of how system components interact and the patterns that arise from these interactions. This is like viewing a jigsaw puzzle with all the pieces scattered about and having to arrange them to create a complete picture of the system. The importance of systems thinking to chemistry education was aptly described by Mahaffy and group in their article published in nature reviews chemistry, 2018, titled “Reorienting Chemistry Education Through Systems Thinking.” They stated that—
“Incorporation of systems thinking into chemistry education offers opportunities to extend the students’ comprehension of chemistry far beyond what is achievable through rote learning. Such a change would enhance understanding of chemistry concepts and principles through their study in rich contexts. These include developing an appreciation of the place of chemistry in the wider world through analyzing the linkages between chemical systems and physical, biological, ecological, and human systems (the latter include legal and regulatory systems, social and behavioral systems, and economic and political systems.”
The adoption of a systems thinking approach to chemistry education can equip future generations with the skills needed to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and bring the planet closer to a sustainable society. This approach encourages students to develop higher-order thinking skills, address complex interdisciplinary problems, and make informed, ethical decisions about globally relevant issues, such as sustainability. It involves examining the interconnections and relationships among the components of complex and dynamic systems and predicting system outputs.
To achieve this, chemistry education needs to change. The incorporation of systems thinking approaches into chemistry education can help students to understand how chemicals are a double-edged sword, with both hazards and benefits, and to consider these together. This approach should be integrated into chemistry education at all levels, through programme learning outcomes (PLO), Programme Specific Outcomes (PSO), and systemic synthesis questions. It will require a significant reorientation in how chemistry is taught, and there are already some initiatives, such as the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), that include systems thinking and modeling as a cross-cutting concept. The application of systems thinking in chemistry education can help students learn chemistry more meaningfully and prepare them for future participation in informed and ethical actions to address global issues such as sustainability, global warming, and climate change. By adopting a system thinking approach in chemistry instruction, students can improve their learning outcomes and increase the subject's impact on society. This shift can enhance chemistry's already substantial contribution to global sustainable development and its ability to address worldwide issues. These benefits justify the need to challenge conventional teaching methods and make the necessary efforts to bring about change in this essential field.
