‘Drugs, religion and chemistry in Tanzania’: an interactive seminar for chemistry students

Abstract

Most Tanzanian Higher Education Institutes do not have the materials and technology to give students a significant practical experience in the sciences. In 2013 Tanzania was rated 159th out of 187 countries for ‘human development’ (United Nations Development Program 2014 Report). In order to supplement their current, limited practical experience, a culturally relevant, interactive seminar which makes the chemical sciences real to the world of Tanzanians was developed. This was achieved via a Natural Product Drug Discovery seminar during which Tanzanian students were able to appreciate how Tanzanian culture is connected with the fundamentals and applications of the chemical sciences (in this case natural product drug discovery to combat diseases prevalent in Tanzania). Post-seminar evaluation and, observation of student behaviour and chemistry staff feedback supported the value of this seminar. An interactive seminar such as this provides an innovative method of chemical education, useful to motivate final year students and provide them with new ideas before they go into their communities to teach chemistry.