Re: [DCHAS-L] [EXTERNAL] [DCHAS-L] Safety awareness

I am wary of "1001 Questions Every Science Educator Should Know."  Any such collection, even if organized by topic, is not likely to be a coherent set of learning goals.  For such a resource I suggest the ACS booklet, Guidelines for Chemical Laboratory Safety in Academic Institutions, (https://institute.acs.org/content/dam/pldp/center/lab-safety/publications/acs-safety-guidelines-academic.pdf). This was thoughtfully constructed by experts in the field.  (It is, of course focused on chemistry - not "science educators" at large.)  The ACS Committee on Professional Training also supports the general ideas that are more specifically listed in this booklet in their ACS Guidelines and Evaluation Procedures for Bachelor’s Degree Programs (Layout 1 (acs.org) ).

 

We do not lack information about should be taught regarding safety.  What we lack is a serious commitment teaching safety at the undergraduate level by many institutions.  That said, my impression is that the "state of the art" is better in 2022 than it was in 2012 and it will continue to improve.  The ACS website about safety is replete with resources.  What we are trying to do is change a culture; this is slow.  Patience is advised, but stagnation should not be tolerated.  Progress is often made at individual institutions when a "champion for safety" emerges.  Press on.

 

Dave