Chemophobia cured by chemists: chemists as children of the Sun

Abstract

Graphic abstract The success of chemists in the fight against COVID-19 provides us with a unique opportunity for strengthening the position of chemistry in society and suppressing chemophobia which has badly affected the image and development of chemistry over several decades. By highlighting the unique merits of chemistry in controlling infections and healing diseases, we propose developing a communication strategy “Chemists as children of the Sun”. The time is ripe for chemists to take control of the story of chemistry. We believe that chemists must help the public to see chemistry in a whole new light. Only a positive perception of chemistry and the chemical profession will secure a sufficient supply of new talents, ideas, and also financial resources for the development of this unique and irreplaceable science for humanity.

Chemophobia and passion: why chemists should desire Marcel Proust

“…Although we observed in our previous article [ 12 ] a recovery from the anti-chemistry amnesia of the past decades during the pandemic, this awakening has yet to lead to a breakthrough. Chemophobia in its immensity still overshadows the horizon of current society, its roots are too deep and the force of the chemophobic habit perhaps too strong.…”

“…Therefore, we need to “explain facts and debunk myths” [ 16 ] to unweave the web of chemophobia and help those who suffer from it. We define chemophobia as a long-lasting and persistent irrational fear of chemistry and chemical substances and a strenuous effort to avoid them, which causes people to become hypersensitive or even intolerant in this respect [ 11 , 12 , 17 – 19 ]. Over time, we have witnessed many of the troubling effects of chemophobia on the lives of chemistry-fearing or chemistry-ignoring and, therefore, vulnerable people.…”

“…As a result, people remain unaware of the important role that chemists play in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past, however, young people have been inspired by the life-saving work of chemists [ 11 , 12 ]. Furthermore, we cannot effectively challenge the attitudes of many young people toward science—as summed up by Sjaastad [ 13 ]—that it is something they value highly but are unwilling to study themselves; or toward scientists as people they do not want to be like; and toward their science-preferring peers who are seen to be less attractive, less popular, and less socially literate than their peers who prefer the liberal arts.…”

Chemical Anniversaries of 2023 Associated with Charles University

“…Kvality, které u svých učitelů obdivujeme a ke kterým se hlásíme výsledky své práce, tak zároveň nabývají podoby klíče k naší chemické identitě. Tím spíše to platí v současné době znejistění, které chemikům přináší všeprostupující chemofobie [2][3][4][5] , jíž se stále nepodařilo ani vymýtit, ani zkrotit. Proto si bezesporu zaslouží na tomto místě připomenout alespoň některá výročí, která jsou v roce 2023 spojena jak s chemií a jejími hrdiny 6 , tak s Univerzitou Karlovou.…”

Eponyms in Laboratory Equipment

“…Eponymická pojmenování v laboratorní technice tak představují nejenom dědictví minulosti, ale také významný komunikační prostředek současné chemie. Dají se dobře využít při zprostředkování chemie studentům a laikům, na základě příběhů a osobností, které za nimi stojí 4,5,150 .…”