Zareen Abbas is a senior lecturer at the Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology and teaches inorganic chemistry to second-year students on the chemistry programme, as well as to students studying pharmacy. But for a number of years now, he has also been involved in teaching future conservators.
Congratulations on the pedagogical award! How does it feel?
‘It was a pleasant surprise! I guess it means you've done something good.
You teach chemistry to several different groups of students, who may have completely different approaches to chemistry. What is the trick to getting students engaged?
‘The key is to try to understand the students and adapt the pedagogy to them. I teach inorganic chemistry, and when I was asked to teach conservation students, I started thinking about the students' backgrounds and prior knowledge, and their approach to chemistry. I changed the whole pedagogy and started with the holistic perspective and then got into chemistry, instead of doing the opposite. For example, starting with the pigments in a colour and what they consist of to explain the chemistry.
Then I use a method in teaching where I lecture for a maximum of 20 minutes and then I give them a task to discuss which we then discuss in a large group. This keeps their concentration up and I can also see if they have understood what I have talked about.
What is going on right now in your courses?
‘We are developing the chemistry course package for pharmacy students, where we have also started to look a little more at the big picture. For example, starting by showing why they need knowledge of chemistry in their professional role.
It is also important to close the gap between high school and university. Starting by reviewing knowledge from high school can be a way to reduce the barriers and make students more confident.
I would also like to create a compendium of materials for conservation students on chemistry. Their course literature doesn't really cover everything they need to know about chemistry, I feel.
Award motivation
Zareen Abbas is a highly valued teacher among both students and colleagues. He teaches in the Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology and is also involved in teaching in the Department of Conservation. In addition, he contributes to programme development in Conservation, Pharmacy and Chemistry. Zareen has adapted his teaching in the conservation programme to the interdisciplinary content and problem-oriented pedagogical approach of the programme. The conservation of historical artefacts and environments requires good knowledge and skills in chemistry. Zareen is a responsive teacher with great integrity. He recognises the specific conditions of his students and tailors his teaching to their needs. He makes sometimes difficult chemistry accessible and exciting.
