An exercise-based international polymer syllabus

Abstract

The IUPAC Subcommittee on Polymer Education has been pursuing the development of a compact syllabus covering the essential topics required for a tertiary education in polymer science, with numerical and short answer exercises addressing each topic. The primary goal of the document is to provide a framework for a complete course made freely available worldwide so that any educator can implement a professionally-curated course in polymer science for their students without needing expensive textbooks or reliable internet access. An important secondary goal is to popularize the use of approved IUPAC terminology in polymer science by using it consistently throughout the document and providing references to IUPAC source documents. Professor Melissa Chin Han Chan was an active and enthusiastic participant in the project who played a significant role in its design and implementation. The late Professor Richard ‘Dick’ Jones also had a keen interest in the project and had a great influence on its direction and structure. This brief note is dedicated to these two illustrious polymer scientists.