CHED 141 |
| Our nation and world faces increasingly alarming issues such as energy shortages, increasing atmospheric and water pollution, and ongoing homeland security concerns. In order to develop/test possible solutions to these problems, our society must be suitably trained in scientific disciplines, especially within the chemical sciences. However, in the last decade, there has been a sharp decline in the number of undergraduate majors in chemistry within the U.S. In stark contrast, the number of majors in science and engineering disciplines in foreign countries such as China and India are increasing exponentially. Should this trend continue into the near future, the U.S. will lose its “superpower” status as we fall further behind in the origin of technological discoveries that are needed to improve the quality of life for mankind. As a first step toward understanding the declining motivation for students toward scientific disciplines, we propose a survey-based study of high school and undergraduate students. Our study will be geared to two groups of students: those that are planning to major (or are currently majoring) in chemistry, as well as those that have decided against this major. Through use of the Big-5 survey, we will obtain information regarding the personality traits of both groups of students. In addition to deciphering student personality profiles, the Birkman survey will also be used to gleam information regarding the behavioral aspects of both groups. Hence, this study will represent a novel complementary use of personality surveys alongside a leading behavioral survey. |
|
General Posters
7:30 PM-9:30 PM, Sunday, April 6, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster
Sci-Mix
Division of Chemical Education |