How can we inspire students?

“I would encourage Navajo students to become chemists by challenging them to translate chemical terms into Navajo and to form a vocabulary in Navajo to describe chemistry. I would like be a part of this change to make science available to my people in their own language so that it becomes meaningful to their lives.”
Shanadeen Begay, former ACS Scholar; doctoral candidate, Boston University. She is a 5-year ACS member.

“Do you want to protect the world’s resources? Do you want to find a cure for cancer? Do you want clean water for everyone? Do you want lighter, more efficient airplanes? Do you want the ideal cosmetic? Do you want a safer world? Chemistry impacts every phase of life and chemists are needed for these advancements.”
Michael B. McGinnis, Professor of Chemistry, North Georgia College & State University, Dahlonega, Ga. He is a 17-year ACS member.

“Have you ever tried to communicate with 7th graders? You have to be a bit melodramatic. So in one of the talks I do – a fun chemistry demonstration – I literally make a physical transformation. I walk in as what they picture a scientist to be – stodgy, bespeckled and rather plain-looking in a lab coat. Over the course of the demonstration I take off the glasses and the lab coat, put on lipstick, shake out my hair and put on some fashionable shoes. I wind up looking like the stylish professional chemist that I am. Doing that really gets the message across that scientists are fun, everyday people who do important and fulfilling work.”
Janet Bryant, Scientist/Engineer IV, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Wash. She is a 12-year ACS member.

“Words are often that—just words. I think the best way to spur young people toward an interest in chemistry is to demonstrate my own excitement with the subject using real-world materials. Tie dye cloth with them using natural dyes from grocery store fruits and vegetables and talk about how chemistry plays a role. Grab a polystyrene deli container to make homemade “Shrinky Dink” toys with them and discuss polymers. Connect their real life to the underlying chemistry.”
Erica Jacobsen, Secondary School Chemistry Education Editor, Journal of Chemical Education, The Dalles, Ore. She is a 4-year ACS member.

“It is important to change the stereotypes young people have about chemists. I am very fortunate to know many `cool’ chemists. As a member of the High School Chemistry Club advisory board I had the opportunity to see the posters the High School Chemistry office has recently published. My favorite one is, How a small explosion sparked my career.”
Carmen Valdez Gauthier,Associate Professor of Chemistry, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Fla. She is a 21-year ACS member.

“I would try to impress upon them the magnitude of chemistry in our everyday lives. I would also stress the importance of chemistry in alleviating some of the physical suffering, in regards to disease, which is occurring in the world. In fact, they don’t have to look in the world; they can start with their own families.”
Sylvester Mosley, former ACS Scholar; Postdoctoral Research Associate, U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Bethesda, Md. He is a 4-year ACS member.

“I would say, ‘Look at everything around you and ask, what makes it work, or what made it possible to build it? Chances are molecular science is at the heart of it!’"
Gary Calabrese, Vice President, Science and Technology, Corning, Inc. Corning, N.Y. He is a 30-year ACS member.

“Chemistry gives you the ability to quickly make connections. It teaches you things that aren’t obvious but that you can still figure out. It’s not passive learning. It’s very active learning. Chemistry is a fantastic springboard to anything. It’s like great mental gymnastics.”
Mary Carmen Gasco-Buisson, former ACS Scholar; Brand Manager, Olay Global Design, Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, Ohio. She is a 12-year ACS member

“I believe the most effective method for encouragement in chemistry is simply to have them do hands-on activities. When a child (or adult) can explore science through fun activities, the science speaks for itself. I don’t believe there are any words that can express how fun chemistry is as well as doing some fun experiments.”
Jill Rockwood, teacher, Montessori Children's House, Peoria, Ill. She is a 10-year ACS member

“When I am talking with students, I first tell them that in order for us to really be able to function in the future we must be science literate. The issues we see with the environment, fuels, health care and food supply are going to be solved with scientific solutions. Yet, it is incredibly important that everyone understand the needs and limitations of implementation. Chemistry is right in the middle of creating the solutions and as such if you are thinking of science chemistry is an excellent place to be.”
Frankie Wood-Black, Senior Air Professional, Trihydro Corporation, Laramie, Wyo. She is a 21-year ACS member.

“Maybe it’s not the right way to motivate everybody, but I like to tell students about how I’m constantly learning. I’ve worked on reactors with 80,000 pounds of catalyst, I’ve worked on materials for blood contact devices, I’ve been in plants opening and closing valves at 2 a.m., and now I work with synthetic wine corks. I get the opportunity to learn about a lot of different industries, and I think that’s quite unique.”
Katherine Glasgow, Senior Materials Scientist, Nomacorc LLC, Zebulon, N.C. She is a 12-year ACS member

“I always explain to the students that chemistry is important in their daily lives, chemistry is the central science that develops many things common to them, chemistry is present everywhere, chemists are always looking to improve processes, to find new drugs that can control diseases, to improve quality of air and water, to clean our environment, to improve the food that we eat, the cosmetics, the materials such as polymers that are used in so many things such as toys, furniture, packing materials, and contact lenses, to mention a few. Chemistry can always present explanations for what they could think is only magic and improve people's life through its transforming power.”
Ingrid Montes, Professor of Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, San Juan. She is a 28-year ACS member.

“I tell students that they can do it. ANYTHING can be mastered if you take it one step at a time. I tell them that their grade in chemistry is a telltale grade, because when university committees look at high school grades, getting a good grade in chemistry says a lot about a student’s ability and stick-to-it-ness. I tell them that chemistry is used in basically every profession and there is so much to learn, you’ll never be bored.”
Lynda J. Jones, author of "HOLY MOL-EE! Chemistry," Pico Rivera, Calif. She is a 4-year ACS member.