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From: Stuart, Ralph <Ralph.Stuart**At_Symbol_Here**KEENE.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] [EXT] Re: [DCHAS-L] Letter to the National PTA regarding the rainbow flame demo
Date: Oct 3, 2019 12:43 UTC
Reply-To:
ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
In-Reply-To:
> >I have seen too many demonstrations where the demonstrator scaled everything up for a "WOW" effect.
Similarly, I am concerned that as many people are scared and/or turned off from chemistry by fires and explosions as those who are attracted to chemistry as a science from those spectacles. I also suspect that this may be part of the reason for chemistry's leaky pipeline of "the progressive loss of capable women from more senior roles in STEM disciplines."
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/chem.201600292
To reinforce this, there is a recent interview at
http://www.labnews.co.uk/article/2029964/a-real-chemical-showman
with Andrea Sella, a UK chemist who is described as "a science populariser and chemist extraordinaire". His comments include:
In classic fashion, your public chemistry demonstrations often involve dramatic explosions â?? when you think about outreach, whatâ??s more important to you â?? the science or the entertainment?
"Itâ??s funny how everyone assumes that as a communicator of chemistry I must spend my time setting
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