The scientific community argues that global chemical pollution has exceeded the threshold for irreversible damage to the ecosystems. Nevertheless, chemicals are a prerequisite for our modern society.
We now face the society-level challenge of developing strategies to discover, reduce and prevent chemical pollution and its effects. To accomplish this we need to raise public awareness and promote recruitment of competent individuals in numerous industries. Although this is one of the significant challenges of our time, there is a lack of educational materials on environmental chemistry for high schools, and teachers lack support in teaching current sustainability issues. Therefore, this project aims to create teaching modules on environmental chemistry for high schools. The modules will be developed in consultation with practicing teachers and tested with student groups.
The modules combine audio and video materials with exercises, experiments, and discussion points. These complete lessons, along with accompanying teacher guides, serve as a foundation for discussing the significance of chemicals in today's society and in the future, what properties makes certain chemicals environmental problems, and how these problems can be avoided or mitigated. By creating versions for both chemistry and natural sciences, potentially all of Sweden's high school students can be reached. The material will be distributed to teachers throughout Sweden, via online as well as in-person workshops.