Guizella A. Rocabado and MaryKay Orgill, J. Chem. Educ. 2026, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.5c01779, This article explores authentic systems thinking from the perspective of systems chemists and compares these views with existing definitions in educational literature. The findings identify complexity as the central characteristic of authentic systems thinking, suggesting that the integration of systems thinking into the […]
Lieke Pieters, Talitha C. Visser, and Albert S. Y. Wong, J. Chem. Educ. 2026, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.5c00989 The authors in this study developed a set of learning tools and investigated if conceptual modelling is an appropriate method of developing students systems thinking skills. This research was conducted with 156 students at the eighth and ninth grade […]
Micke Reynders and Thomas A. Holme, J. Chem. Educ. 2026, 103, 4, 2008-2017, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.5c01407, This article explores the value of using SOCMEs and concept maps (different visualization tools) with a scaffolding approach in nonscience major courses. This was accomplished by having students create concept maps and expand them to SOCMEs so that they could […]
Vicente Talanquer, Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 2026, DOI: 10.1039/6RP00160B, This article explores the epistemic relationship between mechanistic reasoning and systems thinking, proposing that these frameworks can be integrated through an instructional model to facilitate effective learning in a complementary manner. The author argues that coordinating mechanistic reasoning with systems thinking can foster forms of […]
Robert MacDonald, Ashley Elgersma, Thomas Holme, Jeff Snyder, Micke Reynders and Peter Mahaffy, J. Chem. Educ. 2025, 102, 7, 2990–2996, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.5c00310, This article describes how to use SOCKit, an open-access online learning tool that encourages systems thinking through the creation of system maps. This article also presents the relevance of Systems-Oriented Concept Map Extensions […]
Guizella A. Rocabado and MaryKay Orgill, J. Chem. Educ. 2025, 102, 7, 2673–2684, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.5c00315, This article works to refine what systems thinking can and should be in chemistry education by evaluating and revising the characteristics of systems thinking as defined in the chEMIST table. Using thematic analysis, this article concludes that while most of […]
Micke Reynders, Lynne Pilcher and Marietjie Potgieter, J. Chem. Educ. 2025, 102, 4, 1352-1366, DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c01048, This study used student artifacts produced during a group activity on the chemistry and impacts of a surfactant commonly used in laundry detergent for evidence of engagement with systems thinking skills. The characteristics of systems thinking from the ChEMIST table […]
Alan Z. Chen, Martin D Peeks, and Sara H. Kyne, J. Chem. Educ. 2025, 102, 6, 2283-2293, DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c01326, In this study, the authors designed, implemented, and evaluated the use of green chemistry and sustainability related learning activities on their ability to introduce first year undergraduate chemistry students to systems thinking. The intervention was assessed using […]
Markay Orgill, Scott Donnelly, and Seamus Delaney, M. Orgill, S. Donnelly, and S. Delaney, in Chemistry Education for a Sustainable Future, ed. C. H. Middlecamp, M. M. Kirchhoff, P. Mahaffy, and K. Kümmerer, Royal Society of Chemistry, 2025, 13, ch. 4, 93-134, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/9781837676576-00093, This chapter explores how systems thinking can be used to connect […]
Alisha R. Szozda, Zahra Lalani, Samira Behroozi, Peter G. Mahaffy, and Alison B. Flynn, J. Chem. Ed. 2024, 101, 6, 2290-2307, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00080, This article explores the investigation of student perspectives and experiences with systems thinking. To accomplish this, a systems thinking intervention was designed and implemented, and follow up interviews were conducted. The findings […]
Sarah York and MaryKay Orgill, Journal of Chemical Education 2024,101 (1), 10-23, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c01000, The Interconnected Model of Teacher Professional Growth suggests that an instructor who has applied a systems thinking approach can provide a distinct perspective on the advantages and disadvantages of this technique. Potential implementors are further encouraged to incorporate a systems thinking approach into […]
Vicente Talanquer and Alisha R. Szozda, J. Chem. Educ. 2024, 101, 5, 1785–1792, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00216, Using the IUPAC Systems Thinking in Chemistry for Sustainability: 2030 and Beyond (STCS 2030+) project, this article provides an educational framework for chemistry instructors to integrate systems thinking into their classrooms. A systems thinking approach enhances student understanding and ability […]
Micke Reynders, Lynne A Pilcher, and Marietjie Potgieter, Journal of Chemical Education 2023 100 (3), 1357-1365, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c00891, This article reports on the findings of a study to implement systems thinking into a first-year organic chemistry class which was designed specifically to foster the development of systems thinking skills. In this course, the students use systems-oriented concept mapping […]
Halil Tümay, J. Chem. Educ. 2023, 100, 10, 3925–3933, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00474, This article examines the philosophy of chemistry, chemistry education literature and chemists’ reflections on chemical practice, to argue that systems thinking is a key aspect of the discipline, characterized by a cyclical process of (1) modelling systems, (2) prediction, (3) retrospection. Using these cycles […]
Alisha R. Szozda, Peter G. Mahaffy, and Alison B. Flynn, Journal of Chemical Education 2023 100 (5), 1763-1776, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c00955, In this article, an investigation is described in which undergraduate chemistry students engaged with system thinking tasks both individually and collaboratively and the participants’ system maps were analyzed to identify aspects of systems thinking where chemistry educators need […]
Tom Bielik, Ibrahim Delen, Moritz krell and Orit Ben Zvi Assaraf, Journal for STEM Education Research, 2023,6,199-231, DOI: 10.1007/s41979-023-00087-9, This article provides a network analysis of bibliometric information and research synthesis of empirical studies on systems thinking and complexity in STEM education, aiming to identify trends and patterns within the field. The results provide insight […]
Alisha R. Szozda, Kathryn Bruyere, Hayley Lee, Peter G. Mahaffy, and Alison B. Flynn, Journal of Chemical Education, 2022 99 (7), 2474-2483, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c00138 This article used an adapted version of the Teacher-Centered Systemic Reform (TCSR) model to investigate educators’ willingness and ability to implement a STICE approach in their courses and the factors that affect it. This […]
Robert P. MacDonald, Anna N. Pattison, Sarah E. Cornell, Ashley K. Elgersma, Sarah N. Greidanus, Sydney N. Visser, Melanie Hoffman, and Peter G. Mahaffy, Journal of Chemical Education, 2022 99 (10), 3530-3539, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c0065, This article presents an interactive digital learning tool based on the Planetary Boundaries framework to connect sustainability teaching and learning with chemistry and education. […]
Joseph Marc Whalen, Stephen A. Matlin, Thomas A. Holme, Jaclyn J. Stewart and Peter G. Mahaffy, ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2022, 10, 39, 12933–12947, DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c03159, This article explores the role of chemistry in addressing global sustainability challenges through a systems thinking perspective. Using reactive nitrogen compounds as a case study, the authors highlight how […]
Alice Jackson and Glenn A. Hurst, Chemistry Education Research and Practice 2021, 22(4), 855–865, DOI: 10.1039/D1RP00078K, This article investigates the perspectives of 14 instructors from the Department of Chemistry at the University of York surrounding systems thinking. Participation and support from instructors is required in order to beneficially incorporate systems thinking into chemistry education. Implementation […]
Seamus Delaney, Joseph Paul Ferguson, and Madeleine Schultz, International Journal of Science Education, 2021, 43, 16, 2618-2639, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2021.1980631, This article explores how secondary and tertiary educators, as well as researchers, perceive systems thinking in relation to their individual practices through systems thinking workshops and small group interviews. Using inductive analysis, five major themes relating […]
Sophia Mambrey, Justin Timm, Jana Julia Landskron and Philipp Schiemann, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 2020, 57(10),1632-1651, DOI: 10.1002/tea.21649, This article examines the impact of system-specific characteristics on the skills and levels of system thinking demonstrated by students within an ecological context. Using an Item Response Theory approach, the authors were able to identify and […]
Sarah York and MaryKay Orgill, J. Chem. Educ. 2020, 97, 8, 2114–2129, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.0c00382, This article focusses on the construction of The Characteristics Essential for designing or Modifying Instruction for a Systems Thinking approach (chEMIST) framework, which identifies five key characteristics of systems thinking and their associated systems thinking skills. In addition to describing the […]
Sungki Kim, Hee Choi, and Seoung-Hey Paik, Journal of Chemical Education, 2019, 96 (12), 2926-2936, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00210, There are difficulties in studying the Brønsted -Lowry acid-base model due to the complex system of random interaction in both forward and reverse reactions explained in this model. This article proposes a Scratch computer program that uses systems thinking to help […]
Felix M. Ho, Journal of Chemical Education, 2019, 96 (12), 2764-2776, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00309, This paper presents systems thinking as a transferable skill analogous to systems thinking. It aims to identify the challenges that chemistry education faces in relation to systems thinking and turn them into opportunities for introducing it. In this way, educators do not need to introduce […]
Jillian L. Blatti, John Garcia, Danyal Cave, Felix Monge, Anthony Cuccinello, Jennifer Portillo, Betsy Juarez, Ellen Chan, and Frieda Schwebel, Journal of Chemical Education,2019, 96 (12), 2852-2862, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00318, This article emphasizes the need for integrating the Planetary Boundaries framework, Green Chemistry, and the UN sustainable development goals in a systems thinking approach in undergraduate education and […]
Samuel Pazicni and Alison B. Flynn, Journal of Chemical Education, 2019,96 (12), 2752-2763, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00416, To best incorporate systems thinking in chemistry education, considerations of the learner must take precedence. However, relatively little is known about the interactions between the chemistry learner and systems thinking and the skills necessary for learners to engage meaningfully. This article highlights […]
Mahaffy, P. G.; Matlin, S. A.; Holme, T. A.; MacKellar. J. Nature Sustainability, 2019, 2, 362–370. DOI: 10.1038/s41893-019-0285-3, Since a core element of addressing sustainability challenges requires attention to the material basis of society, a new paradigm for the practice of chemistry is needed. Chemistry education, especially gateway post-secondary general chemistry courses, should be guided […]
James E. Hutchison, Journal of Chemical Education,2019,96 (12), 2777-2783, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00334, This paper presents ways of designing the organic chemistry curriculum to include green chemistry and then implementing the new curriculum in academic institutions taking into account common barriers to adopting new curricula which include lack of resources and lack of instructor engagement. The author describes […]
Kathleen C. Murphy, Meghna Dilip, Joseph G. Quattrucci, Susan M. Mitroka, and Jeremy R. Andreatta, Journal of Chemical Education,2019, 96 (12), 2993-2999, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00400, This paper describes a workshop offered at an inner city high school that looked at the sustainability of the student’s consumer choices using a systems thinking approach. Students also participated in laboratory experiments […]
Vicente Talanquer, Journal of Chemical Education, 2019, 96 (12), 2918-2925, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00218, This article walks through the concept of systems thinking and the assessment of students’ understanding in a systems thinking-oriented educational environment. As an example, lead in drinking water is used as an example of how systems thinking can be introduced and assessed in general chemistry. Lastly, […]
Andrew C. Eaton, Seamus Delaney, and Madeleine Schultz, Journal of Chemical Education,2019,96 (12), 2968-2974, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00266, A teacher action research project is presented where a systems thinking approach was implemented into a Depth Study for students in secondary chemistry. After learning about the concept of systems thinking, system maps, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, […]
Subhalakshmi Nagarajan and Tina Overton, Journal of Chemical Education,2019, 96 (12), 2901-2909, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00358, This paper promotes project- and problem-based learning to facilitate complex real-world problem solving. To do this, a global problem/project is selected that requires students to use the scientific method and systems thinking to solve a problem.
David J. C. Constable, Concepción Jiménez-González, and Stephen A. Matlin, Journal of Chemical Education,2019, 96 (12), 2689-2699, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00368, This article considers characteristics of systems that are essential to systems thinking in chemistry as well as the introduction of systems thinking in education and its benefits. This article argues that although systems thinking itself adds complexity to […]
Peter G. Mahaffy, Edward J. Brush, Julie A. Haack and Felix M. Ho, J. Chem. Educ. 2018, 95, 10, 1689–1691, DOI: 10.1021/acs/jchemed.8b00764, This special issue topic was a group effort of the IUPAC Committee on Chemistry Education, the ACS Green Chemistry Institute, and the ACS Committee on Environmental Improvement. Papers in the issue are intended to be […]
MaryKay Orgill, Sarah York, and Jennifer MacKellar, Journal of Chemical Education, 2019, 96 (12), 2720-2729, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00169, A reductionist approach in science education and research is not sufficient to address global challenges such as sustainability, pollution, climate change, and poverty. This article, in conjunction with the Systems Thinking in Chemistry Education (STICE) project, argues for the need […]
Jeannie Kornfeld and Scott Stokoe, Journal of Chemical Education, 2019, 96 (12), 2910-2917, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00263, Incorporating systems thinking in high school chemistry will equip future scientists and citizens with the skills to address complex global challenges. This article explains systems thinking and its role in chemistry education and then provides a five-day unit which can serve as the […]
Peter G. Mahaffy, Stephen A. Matlin, J. Marc Whalen, and Thomas A. Holme, Journal of Chemical Education,2019, 96 (12), 2730-2741, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00390, This article highlights the important role that chemistry has in sustainability science given the primary activities of chemistry are to analyze, synthesize, and transform matter. Using the example of the Haber-Bosch process for the synthesis […]
Whitney C. Fowler, Jeffrey M. Ting, Siqi Meng, Lu Li, and Matthew V. Tirrell, Journal of Chemical Education,2019, 96 (12), 2805-2813, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00280, This paper presents a molecular engineering course introduced at the University of Chicago that uses systems thinking to connect seemingly unrelated technologies. Topics, including artificial meat, nanomedicine, and batteries, are directly connected to the […]
Katherine B. Aubrecht, Marie Bourgeois, Edward J. Brush, Jennifer MacKellar, and Jane E. Wissinger, Journal of Chemical Education,2019, 96 (12), 2872-2880, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00354, In this article the authors illustrate how the inclusion of green chemistry in general and organic chemistry courses connects structure and reactivity to a chemical’s impact on the environment and human health. Though green […]
Jonathan L. Miller, Michael T. Wentzel, James H. Clark, and Glenn A. Hurst, Journal of Chemical Education, 2019, 96 (12), 3006-3013, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00278, This paper presents a competitive strategy card game where players must use interpersonal skills and systems thinking to collect cards and build a recycling plant. The game is intended to help a student understand the […]
Katherine B. Aubrecht, Yehudit Judy Dori, Thomas A. Holme, Rea Lavi, Stephen A. Matlin, MaryKay Orgill, and Heather Skaza-Acosta, Journal of Chemical Education, 2019, 96 (12), 2888-2900, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00314, This article aims to address the increase in complexity that students face with the introduction of systems thinking in education by discussing visual and graphical tools that help conceptualize […]
Pier Luigi Gentili, Journal of Chemical Education, 2019 96 (12), 2704-2709, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00027, This article presents an interdisciplinary course targeting undergraduate, graduate, or Ph.D students to develop systems thinking skills. The need for this course arises from the fragile stability of the climate, ecosystems, and societies, and the need for chemists and scientists of other disciplines to work […]
Sarah York, Rea Lavi, Yehudit Judy Dori, and MaryKay Orgill, Journal of Chemical Education, 2019, 96 (12), 2742-2751, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00261, This article, in conjunction with the IUPAC STICE project, recognizes the importance of systems thinking in chemistry education. The benefits of systems thinking approaches as well as the major findings about the applications of systems thinking are described […]
Peter Mahaffy, Alain Krief, Henning Hopf, Goverdhan Mehta and Stephen A. Matlin, Nature Reviews Chemistry, 2018, 2, 1-3, DOI: 10.1038/s41570-018-0126, Systems thinking is taught in many scientific disciplines but it is strangely absent from chemistry. This paper addresses the challenges faced when trying to integrate systems thinking into chemistry by looking at lessons learned in […]
Stephen A. Matlin, Goverdhan Mehta, Henning Hopf and Alain Krief Nat. Chem. 2016, 8 (5), 393–398, DOI: 10.1038/nchem.2498, The practice and overarching mission of chemistry need a major overhaul in order to be fit for purpose in the twenty-first century and beyond. The concept of ‘one-world’ chemistry takes a systems approach that brings together many factors, including […]