Chemists in a Social and Historical Context

Chemistry now has a human face and the aim of this resource is to present chemists as real people and not stereotypical 'mad scientists' whose lives are completely dominated by science. It includes carefully chosen examples of chemists through the ages and reflects on the difficulties they overcame. Today we live in a world where scientists are accepted regardless of race or gender, however some examples show that this has not always been the case. This resource focuses on strategies for teaching about people in chemistry and is an introduction to some chemists who played a role in the development of major ideas in the subject. The material and activities have been compiled by Dorothy Warren, the Royal Society of Chemistry Teacher Fellow 1999-2000 and have been trialled in schools where they have worked in a classroom setting.