Professor Paul goes Pacific!

PacifiChem 2025 Chemistry Conference

Paul Bolitho

Teacher - Science

Thanks to a generous travel grant from the Chemistry Education Association (CEA), I was lucky enough to travel to the PacifiChem 2025 Chemistry conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, just before Christmas last year. 

Attending this event has given me fresh ideas, up-to-date knowledge and delivered real examples that I can share with my students. This brings classroom learning to life, as I can show how learning connects to what’s actually happening in the world right now. This kind of first-hand insight helps me to keep lessons relevant, engaging and grounded in real experience.

The conference showcased the very latest research in Chemistry, spanning an extraordinary range of fields. Scientists in the United States presented work on synthesising new heavy elements (119 and 120), while Italian researchers shared their analysis of the chemical composition of Saturn’s moon, Titan. Chemists from Canada and across Europe demonstrated innovative methods to depolymerise plastic waste and reintegrate it into a circular economy.

I also attended presentations from Harvard Medical School on emerging cancer treatment delivery models, alongside research from Japanese and Chinese scientists focused on improving battery design, advancing artificial photosynthesis and catalysing CO₂ reduction to transform pollutants into useful materials.

More than 10,000 chemists from countries across the Pacific — including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Canada, Chile and the United States — attended the conference. Hearing from so many experts working at the forefront of discovery was both inspiring and reassuring. Despite the complexity of global challenges, there are dedicated researchers developing solutions every day.

This experience reinforced the power of collaboration in Chemistry. When scientists share knowledge across institutions and borders, they accelerate innovation and expand what is possible in areas that directly impact our lives.

I hope our students, seeing the scope and significance of this work, feel inspired to pursue this fascinating pathway. Chemistry extends far beyond the classroom — it is a dynamic, global discipline where curiosity, persistence and collaboration can drive meaningful change.

And who knows? Maybe one day a BSC Alumni will also take the stage!

I also had the opportunity to travel a bit through Hawaii and saw the famous telescopes on top of the Mauna Kea volcano,  hiked around the Kilauea volcano and even saw the volcano erupt in a dramatic and heated display! 

Opportunities for teachers to attend international conferences and seminars are rare, but they are immensely valuable for professional growth and professional learning.

Paul was selected by his professional organisation, the Chemistry Education Association (CEA), to receive a travel grant to attend this conference — a recognition of his ongoing dedication to strengthening and promoting Chemistry learning pathways for students.

The Chemistry Education Association works to support and advance the teaching of Chemistry by assisting educators in developing their subject knowledge, pedagogical practice and professional expertise. Paul’s selection for this grant reflects both his commitment to his discipline and the high regard in which he is held within the Chemistry education community.