Is less science needed for tomorrow's technologists?
15 Jan 2000
The traditional classification of chemistry as a `hard science' is causing problems with educating the next generation of chemists and chemical engineers, Spanish educationalist Miquel Gassiot told the CEFIC delegates.
As industry becomes ever more multidisciplinary in its approach to research, the `hard science' view of chemistry is no longer suitable, said Gassiot, who is chancellor of the Ramon Llull University. `There is a certain aristocracy around "Hard Sciences" which I consider unjustified, but which has generated a certain mental rigidity amongst "Hard Science"graduates. This brings about difficulties for the interdisciplinary treatment of many problems.'
Gassiot's solution is to design longer degree courses, incorporating elements of other disciplines. `Subjects should be enriched with globalising elements: historical and socio-economic context,' he said. `The objective is not to offer an extensive education, but a much more methodological education.' For example, projects to design a plant should incorporate a unit where students would have to work out the worst possible that could happen to the plant they have designed. This would allow them to `assume the responsibility of technology, with all its possilbities and risks', Gassiot said.
