Monday, April 30, 2012

International Year of Chemistry 2011

International Year of Chemistry 2011

International Year of Chemistry 2011




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The International Year of Chemistry 2011 (IYC 2011) is a worldwide celebration of the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of humankind. Under the unifying theme “Chemistry—our life, our future,” IYC 2011 will offer a range of interactive, entertaining, and educational activities for all ages. The Year of Chemistry is intended to reach across the globe, with opportunities for public participation at the local, regional, and national level.

The goals of IYC2011 are to increase the public appreciation of chemistry in meeting world needs, to encourage interest in chemistry among young people, and to generate enthusiasm for the creative future of chemistry. The year 2011 will coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize awarded to Madame Marie Curie—an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of women to science. The year will also be the 100th anniversary of the founding of the International Association of Chemical Societies, providing a chance to highlight the benefits of international scientific collaboration.

IYC 2011 events will emphasize that chemistry is a creative science essential for sustainability and improvements to our way of life. Activities, such as lectures, exhibits, and hands-on experiments, will explore how chemical research is critical for solving our most vexing global problems involving food, water, health, energy, transportation, and more.

In addition, the Year of Chemistry will help enhance international cooperation by serving as a focal point or information source for activities by national chemical societies, educational institutions, industry, governmental, and non-governmental organizations.

You can Download the IYC Prospectus for more information about the goals, activities, administration, and timeline of IYC 2011. You can participate in various events. .

The IYC 2011 is an initiative of IUPAC, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, and of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. It involves chemical societies, academies, and institutions worldwide, and relies on individual initiatives to organize local and regional activities.

The idea for an international year was first discussed in 2006, during the April meeting of IUPAC Executive Committee. Following that meeting, an IUPAC task group developed a plan to secure the designation by UNESCO of an International Year of Chemistry. That project (IUPAC project 2007-011-1-050) was successfully completed when in April 2008, and the Executive Board of UNESCO, endorsed the proposal for proclamation by the United Nations of 2011 as an International Year of Chemistry (IYC).

http://www.chemistry2011.org/





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Appeal to Knol Authors

Write knols on the theme and promote appreciation and learning of  Chemistry

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Nurturing Human Values in Students

Nurturing Human Values in Students

Nurturing Human Values in Students

Children learn half their values from their parents and other half from teachers during their formative years. The behavior patterns of children depend to large extent on the parents and teachers. Teachers have to encourage and nurture basic human values in their students. Every child is born with these values and teachers have to nurture them. The seed is there and the early plant is there. It is the teachers' job to be good gardeners of these plants.

This knol is based on the chapter Human Values in the Classroom: A Talk to Teachers by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, in the book, Wisdom For The New Millennium, Vyakti Vikas Kendra, Bangalore, India, 1999.

Children learn half their values from their parents and other half from teachers during their formative years. The behavior patterns of children depend to large extent on the parents and teachers.

Teachers have to encourage and nurture basic human values in their students. Every child is born with these values and teachers have to nurture them. The seed is there and the early plant is there. It is the teachers' job to be good gardeners of these plants.

What are human values?

Compassion, cooperation, friendliness, smiling, laughter, lightness, wanting to help, sense of belongingness, and caring for each other were identified  by Sri Sri Ravi Sankar. We can refer works by Sri Dalai Lama and others who are advocating value based living for some more. All of these qualities are there in the child and teachers need to nourish them and bring them out for repeated use by the children.

The model that a teacher must have regarding the positive and negative behaviors of a student is that of an atom. The central part of an atom is nucleus and it has protons – the positive charge. On the periphery of the atom are electrons – the negative charge. The teacher can increase the energy of the electron or decrease the energy of the electron. To decrease the energy of the electron and increase the influence of the protons or the nucleus is the job of teachers. With loving attention and care you can bring out the positive human values in the child.

Parents have to deal with only one or two of their children. But a teacher has to deal with many students. The burden on the teacher is more and to handle that stressful activity successfully the teacher must feel ease within himself first. The teacher has to feel that he can handle the job. The assignment is appropriate for him and he has educated himself and trained himself adequately for the assignment. The teacher has to do relaxation exercises and be with the nature for a short time every day.

Even a rebellious child can be encouraged to become friendly and caring. A shy child may require more firmness to make him stand up and speak out. Many times, Sri Ravi Shankar points that, teachers are strict and firm with rebellious children and pat the shy students.

Sri Ravi Shankar points out “Vata” type of people need a lot of exercise to reduce the vata tendencies. There is restlessness or discomfort in them if they sit quiet for a long time.

Sri Ravi Shankar highlighted an award given students in Canadian schools for being very friendly. He advocated steps in schools to develop friendship among all the students in class rather than among small groups only. He advocates that students be asked to sit with different students in the class periodically. Make people a part of larger and larger groups is the message. “We are all one first and then different next” is the message of spiritualism. The same thing is expressed as “We are all first part of the Divine, and secondly, we are human beings.”

Connection between the Teacher and Students

India has a tradition of worshipping of parents and teachers. Every morning, children are to worship their parents and teachers. Even if they fight during the day, the early morning has to start with worship. That has the potential to wash off every thing that happened till that moment and life can start afresh from that moment in a positive direction.

Worship means a person feels something inside – a deep feeling of gratefulness, love, confidence and trust. This feeling needs to be expressed. The traditional worship is the external behavior associated with the internal feeling. Without respect, without regard for each other, this world would not be very nice place to live. There is a need to encourage people to be grateful, respectful and worshipful toward each other.


Every Day Acts of Teachers

Teachers should tell inspiring stories about nonviolence and tell stories that send the message that violence is a shame. Teach children to honor and respect all life. If they are made sensitive to the life of a butterfly, their respect for all grows. Give children opportunities to share. Encourage them to share with everybody whatever they have. Give a child a basket of candy and ask them to distribute it to everyone. Ask the most intelligent person of the class to explain things to the least intelligent person of the class. Let each person share what he has and let him show care for other persons.

Science Fair - Science Projects - Science among Students

Science Fair - Science Projects - Science among Students

Science Fair - Science Projects - Science among Students

Science fairs are being organized in various countries to promote scientific thinking among students at an early age. Students are also responding favorably to these initiatives and coming out with interesting ideas every year.
 
This knol initially provides various websites providing information on science fairs.
 
 
 

Concept of Sustainable Development

Concept of Sustainable Development

Concept of Sustainable Development

Environment Education Article Series

Report “Our Common Future” (1987)

 

In this report, the words “Sustainable Development” were used for the first time.

 

In the report, sustainable development was defined as:

 

“Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

 

 

Back Ground

 

The current movement to promote sustainable development had its origin in the conference of United Nations in 1980 (IUCN/UNEP/WWF, 1980). The document published had mentioned that three priorities should be incorporated in all development programmes.

 

a. Maintenance of ecological processes.

b. Sustainable use of resources.

c. Maintenance of genetic diversity.

Syllabus for Environment Education for Standard XII

Syllabus for Environment Education for Standard XII

Syllabus for Environment Education for Standard XII

Maharashtra Board, India

Unit I. Biodiversity

 

1. Concept and Value of Biodiversity

2. Ecological Role of Biodiversity

3. Loss of Biodiversity and its Conservation

 

Unit II. Environmental Management

4. Environmental Management

5. Legal provisions for Environmental Management

 

Unit III. Sustainable Development

 

6. Concept of Sustainable Development

7. Support Base for Sustainable Development

 

Unit IV. Sustainable Agriculture

 

8. Sustainable Agriculture

9. Agricultural Inputs

10. Elements of Sustainable Agriculture