Dr, Chancellor College, University of Malawi
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Organizations:Chancellor College, University of Malawi
Association of Professional Chemists and Chemical Engineers in Malawi
IYC Interests:Increase the public appreciation and understanding of chemistry
Encourage interest of young people in chemistry
Generate enthusiasm for the creative future of chemistry
Celebrate the role of women in chemistry
I am a senior lecturer in Chemistry at the University of Malawi. I graduated with a BSc degree majoring in Chemistry at the University of Malawi and then a PhD in Materials Chemistry at University of Cambridge in 2006.
My interest in chemistry can be traced back to the time I was studying for GCSEs. One exceptionally important thing that made learning chemistry easy and interesting during that period for me and my colleagues was the availability of well trained chemistry teachers as well as a well stocked and functional chemistry laboratory. Over the years however, I have realised that the enthusiasm that was there for us when we were students is not there for the current crop of students and as such the number of students studying chemistry has significantly and continues to decrease over the years. This decrease may largely be attributed to the lack of proper laboratories in most primary and secondary schools such that practical or practical work is almost nonexistent. This therefore makes chemistry look like an abstract science far removed from our day to day life. Consequently most students do not appreciate its importance in society.
My specific interest in the ITC2011 is to actively impress upon younger generation of students (mostly in secondary schools) on the relevance and importance of chemistry in our society so that in future we have a society which is scientifically literate.