Substantia. An International Journal of the History of Chemistry 3(2) Suppl. 6: 25-27, 2019 Firenze University Press www.fupress.com/substantia ISSN 2532-3997 (online) | DOI: 10.13128/Substantia-742 Citation: S. Cinti (2019) Chemistry as building block for a new knowledge and participation. Substantia 3(2) Sup- pl. 6: 25-27. doi: 10.13128/Substan- tia-742 Copyright: © 2019 S. Cinti. This is an open access, peer-reviewed article published by Firenze University Press (http://www.fupress.com/substantia) and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distri- bution, and reproduction in any medi- um, provided the original author and source are credited. Data Availability Statement: All rel- evant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files. Competing Interests: The Author(s) declare(s) no conflict of interest. Chemistry as Building Block for a New Knowledge and Participation Stefano Cinti Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy Dissemination of Chemical Culture interdivisional group of the Italian Chemical Society E-mail: Stefano.cinti@unina.it Abstract. Chemistry has been identified as the central science: it connects the life sci- ences with the applied ones. In addition, the degree of branching around chemistry also influences social sciences and intersects in areas such as socio-economics and eth- ics. The knowledge of scientific concepts for non-specialized audiences, through com- munication and outreach activities, should be considered as a potent social heritage for humankind. An increase in awareness regarding the benefits based on science and trust would advantage the entire society. Herein, the relevance of a novel way to com- municate scientific achievements is described: themes like circular economy and sus- tainable development are tackled to understand the role of chemistry in developing an ex-novo culture of knowledge. Keywords. dissemination, knowledge, participation. The perception around chemistry is usually felt as though one is observ- ing a black box. However, even if the content of this black box should not be negatively conceived, this black box called chemistry is often associated with threats and complexities. Of course, who perceives the black box as above written is not the only “guilty”. The role of chemistry as the central science should not only be delivered by specialists, like those who have attended chemistry classes1, in places such as a high-school or a university, but also through different platforms which are more informal such as blogs, radio, magazines. It is a consequence that everything is heard, seen, smelt, tasted, and touched, involves chemistry. The comprehension of chemistry at some basic level is necessary to understand the world around us. However, with respect to the negative perception of chemistry, a major issue is usually rep- resented by the difficulty of non-scientists to recognize the chemistry in eve- ryday life: food digestion, use of soaps and detergents, pharmaceutical drugs, cooking, etc. which only represents a small section portion of daily chemis- try. However, the voyage along the comprehension of chemistry and chemis- try-related affairs has deeper roots2 dating back to the Greek theory of mat- ter (Plato and Democritus, in particular) and the study of alchemy. Which in turn led to the initial steps for empirical understanding. During the lat- 26 Stefano Cinti ter part of the 19th and 20th centuries, following the birth of Mendeleev’s periodic table of the elements and the firsts atomic theories, chemistry has been associ- ated with enormous possibilities towards life enhance- ments through its industrial growth.3 In particular, the large scale and mass production processes of petroleum refinement has delivered feedstocks for fuels, solvents, lubricants, synthetic fibers, plastics, fertilizers, etc. for many other productions. Although the rising of the chemistry within the industry, together with its imple- mentation especially in the 21st century, has led to undis- cussed advantages in terms of wellness and possibili- ties, and two key, but opposing, perspectives should be considered. On the one hand, the positive view is that it reflects the knowledge and products given by chemistry, with major efforts in the advances in well-being over the past centuries with the introduction of smart materials, new vaccines and drugs for incurable diseases, sensors for early diagnosis, and more. On the other, chemistry has inadvertently, but not solely, contributed to a vari- ety of emerging global problems. In this current period, termed t́he Anthropocene Age ,́ obvious consequences due to human activities has burdened the environment in numerous ways, such as increase in pollution, influencing climate change and over-consumption of natural resourc- es.4 Unfortunately, it seems that the latter perspective is the most popular and negative connotations are often associated with the word “chemistry” as a consequence of its history. So much so, that it has led to non-chemists experiencing “chemophobia”5. However, the forgetfulness of the benefits derived from chemistry should be care- fully considered. From a chemist point of view, this trend needs to be inverted. Chemistry should be considered as a partner instead of an enemy; the black box should be converted in a transparent and open box. And to do this, the role of both chemists and non-chemists is of funda- mental importance to establish the role of chemistry as an added resource for a new knowledge. TASK FOR CHEMISTS The role of specialists needs to be directed towards better comprehension of the matter by identifying and implementing novel solutions to moderate potential cri- ses. In particular, given the current state of the global environment, more sustainable processes for “greener” developments should be prioritized. The central role of chemistry represents the basis for the green development in numerous ways. By adopting new designs and meth- odologies, many strategies can be focused on providing more greener routes including generation and storage of sustainable forms of energy (solar energy, fuel cells, carbon capture), development of environmentally neu- tral synthetic methodologies for obtaining safer chemi- cal products, solvents and (bio)catalysts, ensuring the recycle of limited resources and natural products, and the development of accurate analytical methodologies that can allow for real-time and in-process monitoring of hazardous by-products. To this regard, Anastas and Warner introduced the 12 principles of green chemistry in their book “Green Chemistry, Theory and Practice” in 1998.6 Although the principles were outlined with the aim for greener chemical practices, the vision of sustain- ability within the chemical industries are often perceived as an increase of the costs of production. Where, by fol- lowing or adhering to these principles, it is projected to be associated with costs > US$ 50 billion by 2020 within the chemical industry.7 Along with its centrality, the ethics of chemistry and chemical practices are reflected in different systems including the biosphere, human/animal health, politics and economics. To this regard, it represents the added point towards the growing of responsibility as the code of conduct proposed by the Organization for Prevention of Chemical Warfare (OPCW): a “Hippocratic Oath” for chemists need to be observed and actively driven forward by the major chemistry bodies and rigorously practiced.8 However, the ethical engagement of chemists needs to be applied even far from the laboratory bench. A broad communication of scientif ic achieve- ments represents a crucial tool for making chemistry less distant, less remote and less arcane to lay audi- ence. When chemists write articles on their findings, these are published in specialized journals, and the use of (necessary) jargon make the approach to non- specialists less effective. The majority of chemists do not actively work on communicating their research in ways that are friendly to non-specialists: from a career point of view, both in research and industry, there are no reasons for most research to be broadly communicated, and it is often perceived as a loss of time.9 In addition, scientists doing public speaking are often considered to have lost their way as to what is really important. Of course, chemistry is a com- plex and broad field, that cannot be communicated in its entirety, and great efforts are always requested to make the communication charming. To eradicate the “chemophobia” feeling, the role of chemists should be focused on the adoption of brand-new communication strategies. Nowadays, contemporary platforms such as social media, blogs and videos, open up to a plethora of possibilities for reducing the gap between scientific achievements and society. 27Chemistry as Building Block for a New Knowledge and Participation TASK FOR NON-CHEMISTS One of the great challenges for chemists in the 21st century is convincing the general public about the importance of chemistry and transforming the com- mon image of factories pumping out pollution into an concept that shows progress and sustainability at its core. The perfect strategy for communicating the beauty of chemistry, and science in general, has no value if the receiver is not ethically able to participate and under- stand the information. However, interfacing with spe- cialists through the different existing platforms only represents a step towards the establishment of a new concept of knowledge based on the scientific evidence, rationality and sustainability. For instance, 2019 has been the 150th anniversary and international year of the periodic table of the elements, and great efforts have been devoted to highlight the presence and the role of each element in everyday life. Chemical societies, maga- zines, roundtables, and radio stations have emphasized many aspects of the periodic table, including its history, global trends and perspectives on science for sustain- able development, and the social and economic impacts of this field.10 Following the same concept, by under- standing the role of chemistry and its related processes, the end-users display a major responsibility in decision- making for future (but also current) action regarding tremendous issues that are affecting society. In the cur- rent society of consumption, the management of waste represents the latest environmental emergency. In large, it is connected with the manufacturing, exploitation and disposal of products, where approximately 30% of all discarded plastic is not managed or recycled. This does not fit well with a society like ours that largely rely on scarce resources. In this scenario, the urgent need for a shift to a circular model of economy needs competences of chemists for introducing novel ideas of manufacture,11 the participation of citizens and the close relationship between the parties, i.e. chemists and non-chemists. Shifting from linear to circular and a regenera- tive approach represents a turning point for changing the people ś choices of consumption. Novel acquired knowledge for reprocessing of goods and materials are expected to impact social, economic, and environmen- tal fields by generating new, energy efficient, and reduc- ing resource consumption and waste production. Simple actions like the cleaning and repurposing of glass bot- tles represents a quick and fast way to reuse and recycle glass, for example. Moreover, waste such as organic and/ or inorganic can represent the starting point for indus- tries and energy production systems. These actions rep- resent only few examples that are required from a con- sciously involved citizen: the decrease of water pollution, the reduction of CO2 emission, and improvements of environment, climate and human health, are just a con- sequence of a responsible behavior. CONCLUSION Nowadays, the word “chemistry” is still associated to something negative. Although, many chemical dis- asters will not ever be forgotten, chemistry should also be synonymous with progress. The role of chemistry as the central science, and chemists too, represents a cur- rent key for a novel sustainable development for prevent- ing the continuous decline of resources. The other key is represented by the citizens, that are asked to ethically collaborate with specialists, through actions in the field of circular economy and recycling. To do so, chemists and non-chemists need to be connected through engage- ment activities, such as education, where comprehension and awareness of the masses are strictly dependent on these features. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author thanks Emily Nguyen (ICN2, Barcelona) for proofreading the manuscript. REFERENCES 1. I. Eilks, Eurasia J. Math. Sci. Technol. Educ. 2015, 11, 149-158. 2. J. M. Rampling, Ambix 2017, 64, 295-300. 3. S. A. Matlin, G. Mehta, H. Hopf, A. Krief, Nat. Chem. 2015, 7, 941-943. 4. R. Monatersky, Nature 2015, 519, 144-147. 5. P. Lazlo, The Public Image of Chemistry, World Scien- tific, 2007. 6. P. T. Anastas, J. C. Warner, Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice, Oxford University Press, 1998. 7. World Investment Report 2014 Overview (UNCTAD, 2014); http://go.nature.com/PcxhAI 8. OPCW, Report of the Workshop on Guidelines for the practice of Chemistry under the Norms of the Chemi- cal Weapons Convention, 2015. 9. M. R. Hartings, D. Fahy, Nat. Chem. 2011, 3, 674- 677. 10. M. Poliakoff, A. D. Makin, S. L. Tang, E. Poliakoff, Nat. Chem. 2019, 11, 391-393. 11. W. R. Stahel, Nature 2016, 531, 435-438. Substantia An International Journal of the History of Chemistry Vol. 3, n. 2 Suppl. 6 - 2019 Firenze University Press Where does chemistry go? From mendeelev table of elements to the big data era Luigi Campanella1, Laura Teodori2,* Visualizing Solubilization by a Realistic Particle Model in Chemistry Education Antonella Di Vincenzo, Michele A. Floriano* Chemistry as building block for a new knowledge and participation Stefano Cinti Tissue Engineering Between Click Chemistry and Green Chemistry Alessandra Costaa#, Bogdan Walkowiakb, Luigi Campanellac, Bhuvanesh Guptad, Maria Cristina Albertinie* and Laura Teodori a, f* Chemistry Beyond the Book: Open Learning and Activities in Non-Formal Environments to Inspire Passion and Curiosity. Sara Tortorella,1,2,* Alberto Zanelli,2,3 Valentina Domenici2,4