Wednesday, 18 October 11:00am – 12:00pm

This seminar will be delivered in Chemistry Lecture Theatre 4

Speaker: Mick Moylan, The University of Melbourne

Host: Dr Stephen George-Williams

Title: Why Should I Include Indigenous Chemistry in my Teaching? How Should I Do It?

Abstract: With The Voice referendum occurring on 14 October, it’s timely to consider the relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their Knowledge Systems, and our own discipline. In this talk, I will outline recent strategies that aim to change chemistry education at the University of Melbourne, particularly around the topics of redox reactions, equilibria, extractions and medicinal products. These strategies aim to improve Indigenous students’ success and increase non-Indigenous students’ understanding of these traditional chemical principles. First Australians graduate with chemistry degrees in in rates that are far lower than any of the other STEM disciplines, and this is our problem and one that we can change.

Bio: Mick Moylan is a Senior Lecturer in Chemistry at the University of Melbourne and came to this position after completing postgraduate studies making coordination polymers (MOFs) with Prof Richard Robson. After a stint in CSIRO Education’s travelling science program, Mick started his current position where he teaches undergraduate students and has a research interest in student success in large first-year classes. Mick is heavily involved in professional development for secondary school teachers and is co-author of the best-selling textbooks for VCE and HSC chemistry. For the last 8 years, he has been involved in the Bachelor of Science(Extended) at the University of Melbourne which is a small program that aims to bring more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students into STEM education.