Not his mother’s education…

College chemistry in pandemic times!

Our student of engineering re-purposes the kitchen for one of his few labs.

No white lab coat for him; his dad’s old black t-shirt will do the trick. Paper cups have replaced flasks, and chopsticks work as stirrers. His gloves were fetched from the garage. And perhaps his safety glasses (not shown) were once used in boyhood nerf wars.

This is what the first year of attending Zoom University looks like.

All this stands in contrast with mother’s first year at university. She had a nominal fifteen hours of scheduled labs, workshop training, and technical drawing classes per weeks.

There has been much discussion about children losing out on their education during the pandemic, but even self-motivated adult learners are at a disadvantage. This is especially true for students in fields where practical training goes hand in hand with theoretical studies.

Over the next few years, engineering graduates will be less prepared for the workplace than their slightly older friends. However, they will not be any less intelligent or less able. It will be up to us, who are established in the profession, to give them extra support.

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