What is Small-Scale Chemistry?
Small-Scale Chemistry (SSC) is an innovative method of conducting experiments using very small quantities of chemicals and simplified, safer equipment compared with traditional laboratory setups. Instead of filling large test tubes or beakers, SSC relies on drops, milliliters, or grams—carefully adjusted for each experiment.
The objectives of SSC are to make chemistry experiments:
- Safer – lowering the risk of accidents and minimizing hazards to health and the environment.
- Cheaper – reducing costs for chemicals, equipment, waste disposal and preparation time.
- Greener – minimizing waste, energy, and water consumption while protecting the environment.
- More accessible – enabling practical work even in schools without fully equipped laboratories.
Why Small-Scale Chemistry is Needed
Practical experiments are essential for students to develop scientific skills, critical thinking, and an appreciation of science in daily life. Yet in many secondary schools worldwide, hands-on laboratory work is absent. A major barrier is that chemistry laboratories often involve hazardous chemicals and costly facilities.
To reduce risks while preserving meaningful learning:
- Less hazardous substances should be prioritized (green chemistry).
- The smallest possible quantities of chemicals should be used (small-scale chemistry).
The Role of Good Design
Effective Small-Scale Chemistry depends on well-designed experiments that emphasize:
- Careful selection of tools (e.g., reaction plates, droppers, syringes, small plastic containers).
- Clear, step-by-step procedures to avoid accidents and ensure reliable results.
- Consideration of safety, waste reduction, energy efficiency, and sustainability.
- Experiments that are fast, affordable, eco-friendly, and exciting for learners.
Origins at Chulalongkorn University
Small-Scale Chemistry (SSC) for high school teachers was first introduced in 2003 at the Department of Chemistry, Chulalongkorn University. Two large workshops, each training 200 Thai high school teachers, were conducted in lecture hall settings rather than laboratories. These early sessions demonstrated that safe, cost-effective, and meaningful chemistry experiments could be taught outside traditional laboratory environments.
National Expansion in Thailand
Building on this success, Small-Scale Chemistry expanded nationwide. By 2014, in partnership with the Chemical Society of Thailand and the DOW Thailand Group, the program became a national initiative under the DOW Chemistry Classroom project.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the program shifted online, enabling wider participation and reaching teachers in remote areas. Its growing importance was formally recognized in 2022, when the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) of the Ministry of Education signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Chemical Society of Thailand and the DOW Thailand Group.
A second MOU in May 2025, involving OBEC and the Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC) of the Ministry of Education, the Chemical Society of Thailand, Chulalongkorn University and the DOW Thailand Group, reaffirmed Thailand’s leadership in advancing SSC. This marked the first official recognition of Chulalongkorn University’s continuing contribution, through its Department of Chemistry, which has supported the program from the very beginning.
Regional Outreach to ASEAN and South Asia
Small-Scale Chemistry expanded beyond Thailand in 2017 with the first international training held in Myanmar, sponsored by Bangkok Bank under the BBL-CST Small-Scale Chemistry Training for High School Teachers in Asia.
In 2022, with IUPAC’s endorsement, the initiative reached South Asia through the project Capacity Building of Teachers on Chemistry Teaching with Hands-on Small-Scale Experiments in High Schools in Asia.
Today, SSC is active in Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh.
Sustainability and Regional Impact
For more than a decade, the program has been implemented in Thailand and later extended to ASEAN and South Asia through various models of delivery. It is conducted annually through four core activities:
- Workshops conducted both in Thailand and participating countries.
- Video competitions that encourage creative experiment design, open to all trained teachers.
- Training-of-trainers programs to prepare future SSC leaders.
- Networking of 60 outstanding teachers across four countries.
Each year, outstanding teachers from Thailand and other countries are selected for further intensive training and networking in Thailand. These educators become leading teachers—the core of SSC in each country. They, along with thousands of trained teachers, mentor their peers in home countries, ensuring that Small-Scale Chemistry teaching remains sustainable and impactful, while driving long-term improvements in science literacy across the region.
Partnerships and Global Goals
The Small-Scale Chemistry initiative directly contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
- SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being: safer experiments with reduced risks.
- SDG 4 – Quality Education: expanded access to hands-on learning.
- SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities: enabling schools with fewer resources to conduct experiments.
- SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: reduced waste and chemical use.
- SDG 13 – Climate Action: low-energy, eco-friendly practices.
- SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: collaboration across universities, NGOs, government, and private sector.
Impact to Date
- More than 5,000 teachers trained, benefiting hundreds of thousands of students across ASEAN and South Asia.
- Increased student engagement and achievement in science, with many pursuing STEM studies and careers.
- Significant cost savings for schools, alongside safer, environmentally responsible practices.
- Creation of a sustainable regional network of leading teachers who continue spreading knowledge and innovation.
- Recognition of Thailand as a regional hub for science education innovation and leadership.
Conclusion
Small-Scale Chemistry makes practical work possible for every school by combining safety, affordability, and environmental responsibility—while maintaining the excitement of real experiments.
Small-Scale Chemistry is more than a scaled-down version of laboratory work; it is a transformative approach to science education. By making experiments safer, greener, and more accessible, SSC empowers teachers, inspires students, and contributes to sustainable development across the region.
- “Small-Scale Chemistry: Big Learning, Safer Labs, Greener Future.”
- “Transforming Science Education — Safe, Sustainable, and Accessible for All.”
- “Tiny Experiments, Huge Impact — Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists.”
- “Making Chemistry Safe, Affordable, and Exciting for Every School.”
- “Small Quantities. Big Possibilities. A Greener Way to Learn Chemistry.” · “Empowering Teachers, Inspiring Students — One Drop at a Time.”