AN INTERVIEW WITH HANS-JÜRGEN SCHMIDT

Abstract

In this interview Schmidt provides some glimpses of his private life, from the time he decided to study chemistry until his career at the University of Dortmund and then, after retirement, at the University of Karlstad, Sweden, as guest professor. As an undergraduate in Heidelberg he worked under the supervision of the Nobel Laureate Georg Wittig in organometallic chemistry (he gives some personal memories about this outstanding man). After graduating he continued his research work in the field of rubber synthesis in industry. Prof. Schmidt also discusses the importance of the results of educational research for teaching; he explains the success of the Dortmund Summer Symposia and suggests some relevant qualities for being good teachers. He provides a personal perspective on the impact of new technologies in education and discusses the results of his research work on stoichiometric calculations. He sheds some light on some of the results of his many studies on students’ misconceptions and explains why students develop some misconceptions in chemistry. [Chem. Educ. Res. Pract.: 2003, 4, 11-17]