University of the Western Cape: Professor Dudley Shallcross Awarded OBE for Outstanding Contributions to Science Education
Professor Dudley E. Shallcross, a prominent figure in the realm of chemical education, has been awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the King’s birthday honours of 2024. This accolade celebrates his extensive contributions to science education both in the UK and globally. Since 1999, Prof Shallcross has served as an academic at the School of Chemistry at Bristol University. In 2018, he expanded his influence to South Africa, joining the Department of Chemistry at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) as an Extraordinary Professor.
Prof Shallcross’s career is marked by a series of distinguished roles and awards. He was the Director of the Bristol ChemLabS Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning from 2005 to 2010 and served as the CEO of the Primary Science Teaching Trust from 2010 to 2022. As the President of the Education Community of the Royal Society of Chemistry from 2020 to 2023, he further cemented his leadership in science education. Currently, he chairs the Enthuse Charitable Trust.
He said the potential of students in South Africa is enormous, and it has been a privilege to contribute to their learning journey.
“I have enjoyed working with and learning from South African staff and students for the last 16 years, and through our current education projects, we are learning so much about how to use virtual learning environments effectively.”
His chemistry education accolades include being the first National Teaching Fellow in Chemistry (2004), the award of the Nyholm Prize for Education from the Royal Society of Chemistry (2017), and the George C. Pimentel Award for Education in Chemistry from the American Chemical Society (2020), both of which represent the highest educational honours from these two premier international chemical societies.
Recently, Prof Shallcross co-authored a significant paper titled “Flipping the Thinking on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. Why EDI Is Essential for the Development and Progression of the Chemical Sciences: A Case Study Approach.” This paper, a collaboration with Professor Michael Davies Coleman and other colleagues, underscores the crucial role of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in advancing the chemical sciences. It highlights how EDI initiatives can foster a more inclusive and progressive scientific community, essential for the development of fields such as chemistry.
Prof Davies-Coleman, another leading academic at UWC and former Dean of the Life Science Faculty, has worked closely with Shallcross. Their combined efforts in promoting EDI within the chemical sciences reflect their commitment to creating a more equitable academic environment.
Prof Davies-Coleman said most of our students come from disadvantaged academic backgrounds where very few have ever had any hands-on experience in a laboratory environment.
“The acquisition of laboratory skills is an essential component of many science degrees. Over the past four years our goal has been to level the playing field for unprepared students, by developing laboratory skills and confidence in the laboratory, using the virtual science learning environment technology made available to us through our partnership with the company LearnSci based in Bristol.
“Our students have enthusiastically embraced the LearnSci pre-lab preparation programmes and we have seen a significant increase in their confidence in the laboratory. Working with Dr Candice Franke in the Department, Prof Shallcross and I are currently exploring the application of other LearnSci virtual learning tools to evaluate and enhance chemical numeracy skills in our undergraduate students.”
Shallcross’s work, both at Bristol and UWC, demonstrates a profound dedication to education and inclusivity. His OBE award not only honours his past achievements but also inspires continued excellence and innovation in science education.