Last week, chemistry educators from across the US and around the globe—including instructors, K–12 teachers, education professionals, and researchers—gathered in Madison, Wisconsin, for the 2026 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE) held July 26-30. Sponsored by the American Chemical Society Division of Chemical Education, the event is the largest gathering of chemistry educators in the world, where attendees can connect, share teaching resources, and exchange ideas.
“Conferences like BCCE remind me that the chemistry education community is filled with generous people who freely share ideas, encourage one another, and continually push our teaching forward. I always leave inspired,” Colleen Kelley, higher education editor at Chemical Education Xchange (ChemEd X), wrote in a LinkedIn post.
“As chemistry continues to evolve, educators will remain at the center of that story—helping students build the knowledge, skills, and curiosity needed to shape the future.”
This year’s conference was hosted by the University of Wisconsin–Madison—a meaningful location in a year of big anniversaries (ACS’s 150th, the US’s 250th), as the fourth BCCE was held in Madison 50 years ago. Wisconsin showed its support with Governor Tony Evers declaring the week Chemistry Education Week in the state and Madison mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway welcoming attendees to the city in an official statement.
The theme for this year’s BCCE,“Reflecting Back, Marching Forward,” was timely for the location as well as the moment: a changing educational environment adapting to new technologies and tools, different funding sources, shifting policies, evolving industry needs, and projected workforce shortages.
Kelley said that this was her first year at BCCE representing ChemEd X, a platform funded by ACS, and that it gave her a chance to have conversations about the support and community presence higher education chemistry teachers need in an ever-changing educational and scientific landscape. ChemEd X bridges a unique gap “between the good ideas that you might share with a colleague and good ideas published in the Journal of Chemical Education,” Kelley said. Unlike on a community forum such as Reddit, the content on ChemEd X is peer reviewed, which can offer some peace of mind as scientific publications of all types, and the internet as a whole, grapples with content generated by artificial intelligence.
“Supporting chemistry educators at all levels is critical to inspiring, teaching, and preparing the scientists of tomorrow,” said Adam Boyd, director of the American Association of Chemistry Teachers. “Educators engage and demystify. They encourage and challenge. They are often the catalyst that sets young minds on the path toward a lifelong interest in chemistry and science.” In many ways, Boyd said, educators bring the ACS’s core values to everyday life—fostering curiosity, supporting lifelong learning, creating welcoming learning environments, and helping students understand science’s role in building a more sustainable future. “Their impact extends beyond the classroom and across generations.”
Programming included building research skills and scientific and technological advancements through topics like green chemistry and sustainability in the curriculum, chemical safety, coding to enhance biochemistry, active learning in analytical chemistry, harnessing artificial intelligence and machine learning, building rigor and credibility using qualitative data, and science communication skills. There was also programming around enhancing the classroom and learning experience through topics like getting students interested in organic chemistry, using art and material culture to enhance chemistry knowledge, engagement in larger classrooms, preparing students for industry and graduate school, chemistry for nontraditional students, designing and assessing chemistry testing and assessments for the 21st century, and mentorship and community building. These are all topics that matter today and when looking at the future of chemistry education and preparing students.
When looking toward the future, Boyd had a few insights. Educators will increasingly explore how emerging digital tools can deepen understanding and personalize learning experiences, he said. But no matter how advanced the tools get, the fundamentals of good teaching will remain essential: engaging students, fostering curiosity, and creating meaningful opportunities for hands-on learning. “As the central science, chemistry lies at the heart of materials science, data science, and sustainability,” Boyd said. Students will be asked to think across disciplines and apply their knowledge in new ways.
Kelley, a former elementary school teacher, said that even as new conversations around new technologies and challenges emerge, it’s a good chance to continue discussions about elementary and middle school chemistry education. “We don’t empower elementary and middle school teachers yet,” she said. Chemistry is often a “vinegar and baking soda experiment” that checks a box. It’s not taught like a language that you can become fluent in—or what she likes to call molecular literacy. Being able to offer that to both teachers and students can encourage and enable earlier and easier understanding of a science that touches so much of our lives.
“As chemistry continues to evolve, educators will remain at the center of that story—helping students build the knowledge, skills, and curiosity needed to shape the future,” Boyd said. That includes developing scientifically literate citizens who thoughtfully engage with the scientific challenges and opportunities of our time.
