Chemical waste should be reduced to minimize environmental pollution, and it is important that the amount of waste is minimized in chemistry teaching laboratories to reduce the negative impact on environment as well as the disposal costs of university. There are several ways to minimize the waste generated in chemistry teaching laboratories, namely, (1) elimination or reduction of the source of pollution, (2) recycling and reusing the chemicals, (3) treatment of waste to minimize its hazards, (4) the use of microscale chemistry, and (5) better management of chemical inventories in the laboratories. In this study, the common course syllabi and laboratory techniques of chemistry undergraduate experiments in universities are evaluated. The masses and volumes of chemical reagents used in the chemistry teaching laboratories of National University of Singapore (NUS) are quantified. Chemical waste reduction practices of the universities are examined, and a checklist is used to evaluate the current waste reduction practices in the chemistry teaching laboratories of NUS. Although there are existing practices that reduce the amount of chemicals used and waste generated in teaching laboratories, more effort could be done to improve the situation further.
The skills and knowledge of the employers of chemists have been explored in varying degrees of specificity. Some studies have argued that the current university curriculum does not prepare students for modern industry adequately, while others have provided an overview of the job market for graduates with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. In order to stay relevant, the chemistry undergraduate course syllabi need to evolve constantly to meet the needs of the modern-day chemist. This study examines the specific technical skills and knowledge in job advertisements required by graduates with a bachelor's degree in chemistry to successfully transition to a workplace. A relatively new initiative in the chemistry department of the National University of Singapore, namely, the final year internship program, is also evaluated in this paper. Additionally, the chemistry undergraduate course syllabi of the universities and the most researched chemistry topics are examined. The aim of this study is to bridge the gap between chemistry departments and industries or research institutes.
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