Guideline for Authors of "Chemical Education in Asia and Pacific Area"

October 19, 1995

The purpose of this attempt to publish "Chemical Education in Asia and Pacific Area" is to prepare a common reference book in all aspects of chemical(science) education of countries in Asia and Pacific Area. For the first instance, the contribution from countries(or rather, their national chemical societies) belonging to FACS will comprise the book. Countries not belonging to FACS, or some specific topics will be included in the volume 2 of this series(if such an attempt will become possible).

(1) General Style

It is expected that the authors would examine a copy of "The Chemical Education in Japan(2nd version)" . Preferably your chapter will be a miniature of the book mentioned. On the other hand, that book is only for Japan. In the intended book some 20 countries will be described, and hence the length of each chapter is ca. one-eighth of the previous book.

So it might be wise to concentrate in a couple of subjects rather than to try to cover everything. On the other hand, it is rather difficult for anyone to choose the most appropriate subjects from many possible subjects. This is particularly so for this book since it is a multi-author venture. A unified feeling of the book will be rather difficult to obtain. So the editor feels like to suggest authors to select a few specific subjects(preferably all) out of the list below.

If most of the authors cover such topics, it will be very interesting to readers since comparison among systems of various countries can better be made.

(2) How to Prepare the Manuscript

(A) Text and Figures

The local editorial board is planning to publish the book by DTP (desktop publishing). The most preferable files to be received are those prepared by the Macintosh/MSWord combination. Basically we can convert the files made on MS-DOS/Windows machines such as IBM PC and its compatibles. The software we can manage includes MS Word, EG Word, SoloWriter, MacWrite 2, Write Now, Word Perfect and other widely-used word processor applications. If possible, however, the editor hopes that ASCII (text) files are also prepared, in addition to the document files of your word processor.

The manuscript is written in English, typed 1.5 spaced on A4 paper with the margin 2.5 cm up and down, 2.5 cm left and right. The font used is helvetica, point 10. This guideline was prepared based on this format.

The maximum length is 20 PRINTED PAGES including Tables and Figures(i. e., as estimated in the printed form).

Computer-prepared figures are preferably prepared as the PICT (Macintosh) or TIFF (IBM-PC) format files. They can be incorporated in the document files in place, but the original files should also be sent to the editor. The hand-made figures are each drawn clearly with India ink and/or typeset lettering on good-quality A4 white paper or tracing paper and be suitable for photo-reproduction. They should be legible after 50% reduction. The machine-readable manuscript (document and ASCII files) and figures (PICT or TIFF files) should be submitted in 3.5' floppy disk(s), together with a copy of their printout (hard copy) and the hand-made figure(s).

(B) Photo Pages

In "Chemical Education in Japan(2nd version)" we could manage to prepare a few pages for photos. Since special papers are to be used for better photo reproduction, photo pages are generally much more expensive. At the moment, we cannot exactly estimate the cost of publication of the book, and hence cannot guarantee if it is possible to have photo pages in the book. We promise to try my best.

So, the editor feels like to ask each author to prepare photos for photo pages. Photos should be chosen so that these will be a good witness of chemical education in your country. If financially possible, one page will be assigned to each country. If this is financially impossible, half a page will be assigned. Probably two photos will be appropriate for half a page in average. So please prepare photos in two ways; a full page or half a page.

Photos will be reproduced in black and white(not in color). Please write the name of the country on the backside of the photos. A brief (one line) explanation of each photo is necessary. Some idea about lay out should be provided. Please note that photo pages will necessarily be placed at the beginning of the book rather than in each chapter.

(3) Suggestions on the Topics to be Discussed

Though the material described in your manuscript is to be chosen by yourself, some common topics will be interesting to the reader in view of comparison and internationalization. The followings are some of my suggestions.

(A) Comparison among Textbooks.

It would be interesting to reproduce a page of textbooks{preferably one page each of primary (age; ca. 6-12) school, junior high school (age; 12-15) and senior high school(age; 15-18) textbooks}. The page should for instance treat atom and/or atomic structure. The language problem will be minimal if you choose pages where there are many drawings and/or formula/equation.

In each printed page of your chapter, not only a reproduction of a page of textbook but also some explanation by yourself should be provided.

(B) Representative Experiments

Experiments are the most important part of chemical(science) education. Newly developed, unique experiments for students, for instance, would be interesting.

(C) How Will Students be Admitted to Universities?.

In many countries the entrance to universities is the highlight of education. There are sometimes very competitive examinations. Readers will be interested in the report of this stage. The nature and the difficulty of examination(preferably with one example), some statistical aspect of university entrance. The statistics must contain the number of students admitted vs. the number of boys and girls of the same age.

Some characteristic feature of each countries should also be reported. In Japan, for instance, there are many boys and girls who spend one(or two) year(s) just to prepare for the entrance examination after the graduating from senior high school and before admitted to the university. They are called "ronin" and they go to special schools for the preparation of university entrance examination.

(D) Course of Study(Government's Guideline)

In "Chemical Education in Japan(2nd version)" the course of study issued by Monbusho(Ministry of Education) was reproduced. It will, though in a qualitative manner, describe how much Japanese students learn. If you have in your country this kind of Course of Study, this would be the fundamental material to all.

(E) Chemical Society and Chemical Education

Chemical Society of Japan(CSJ) has a kind of division for chemical education, and many university professors as well as a large number of senior high school teachers belong to this division. Though there are some other organizations mostly for school teachers, the chemical education division of CSJ is the main power for promoting chemical education at various stage including further education. CSJ is spending a large amount of money to promote chemical education and to promote among citizens. Such was described in Chemical Education in Japan(2nd version)" . It would be interesting for the reader if each author can describe the role of your chemical society in promoting chemical education in your country.

(F) Environmental Education

It is now clear that environmental education is the most frequently used keyword in chemical education in 21st century. "When and how far is environmental education given to students" will, however, vary from country to country. Some explanation of each country's situation, and proposals for unification and standardization are most welcome.

(G) Demands of Chemists

This is very interesting if an appropriate statistics are available. Demands can preferably classified as those from universities, schools, industries, etc.

(H) Training, In-Service Training and Qualification of School Teachers.

Each country must try its best to "foster" good school teachers. The method and practice of teacher training is very informative. In-Service training of school teachers is another important aspect of chemical education. Finally each country may have different requirement for the qualification for school teachers. The school teacher training in general should be a very important aspect of science/chemical education.

(4) The Deposit of Additional Information

It is possible that the authors may have much more data not to be included in the manuscript since twenty pages are not enough. For instance, an English translation of the Course of Study of each country will be interesting but too lengthy to be included. In such a case you can submit the materials in the form of computer-readable files. The files are to be deposited in "Asian Chemical Education Network" which is a new project of FACS, and to be operative in due course(probably after 14-ICCE, held in July 1996). Your files will be the first treasure of the database.

(5) The Asian Chemical Education Network

Though the function of this network is not yet decided, it is certain that the network will be the host of database for chemical education in Asia and Pacific Area. The Chemical Society of Japan is planning to deposit the files of "The Chemical Education in Japan(2nd version) "as the beginning.

The files of the intended book "Chemical Education in Asia and Pacific Area" together with the additional documents can also be deposited if the agreement of authors and their chemical societies are obtained. We like to ask each author and each Chemical Society to allow me use your material, including future enlargements, not only for the book but also for the Asian Chemical Education Network.

If agreement is made so that your files are deposited in the Asian Chemical Education Network, We like to suggest the authors(or their successors) to update and enlarge each chapter at least in every two years(e.g., in the year when the ACC will be held). The updated and enlarged files will be stored in an appropriate place(e.g., The Chemical Society of Japan for the first few years) so that one can access to and obtain the files through network system.

(6) Schedule of Publication

(A) Submission of the 1st Draft-----by March 31, 1996

A brief survey of all manuscripts will be done by the editor and the local editorial board. The manuscript will be returned to the authors with some suggestions for alteration, improvement and standardization. If the authors will attend 14-ICCE, there is a chance for the editor to discuss with authors about their manuscripts in Brisbane.

(B) Submission of the 2nd Draft-----by August 31, 1996

During the period B and C, an extensive editing will be done. The local editorial board will ask a native(in English) who lives in Japan to act as the consultant.

(C) Final Check by the Authors-----by January 31, 1997

This is equivalent to the Galley Proof Reading in the conventional publishing. The manuscripts will receive final check by the editor and local editorial board, after which the materials will be handed to the printer by 15 March, 1997.

(D) Publication-----May 1, 1997

Each contributing country will receive 10 free copies at Hiroshima. Please understand the situation that the cost of mailing from Japan is very expensive and no international shipping will be attempted for saving this cost. Each author(or a group of authors) will receive 5 free copies. These are also to be handed to the author(if in Hiroshima), or the corresponding chemical society.

(7) Distribution and Price

How to distribute the published book is another difficult task. The grant from the Ministry of Education is not enough for a wide distribution. Whether the book can be distributed free to all participants to 7-ACC (although this is what we like to do at the moment) is entirely to depend on the fund the Organizing Committee of 7-ACC can raise.

After 7-ACC, it is certain that free distribution is impossible. The price should, however, be kept minimum; just enough to cover the cost of mailing and reprinting (US$ 10-20). Negotiation can be done if the order is in a bulk(under the condition that shipping, etc. can be treated as one).

As you remember, "Chemical Education in Japan(2nd Version)" was distributed free. It was found that a free distribution was not necessarily a clever policy. Although the remaining copy of "Chemical Education in Japan(2nd Version) is now essentially zero, it is impossible to reprint it. It is extremely difficult to get grant for reprinting. We now realize it is essential to reserve some money for reprinting for a continuity of the project.

(8) Editing Policy

For various reasons the local editorial board would like to retain the right to modify(delete, alternate, move, etc.). We try our best to obtain the agreement of authors in such a case. In the final stage, however, there might be some possibility of ineffective communication(failed to receive the response for a week, etc.). In such a case the editor must proceed if the deadline is approaching without waiting for the reply. The date of publication should be before the date of 7-ACC. This is the crucial deadline. Please cooperate with this deadline.

We do thank you for your cooperation and contribution.


(Convenor of the project)
Prof. Yoshito Takeuchi
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science,
Kanagawa University
2946 Tsuchiya, Hiratsuka, Japan 259-12
Tel. +81 463 59 4111 ext. 2842; Fax +81 463 58 9684
E-mail yoshito@info.kanagawa-u.ac.jp