Finding Meaning in Chemistry Education: A Guide to Your Ikigai

About the Seminar
This interactive lunchtime seminar explores the multifaceted journey of finding one’s “Ikigai” – a sense of purpose and meaning – within the realm of Chemistry Education.
I will share my own journey in finding my Ikigai and how it resides in the crucial intersection of research and teaching excellence, highlighting the need for both to thrive in academia. The pathway to opportunities in Chemistry Education is highly dependent on recognizing the significance of lifelong learning and embracing a growth mindset.
My philosophy of a good teacher is based on the importance of developing strong leadership skills, including effective mentorship, active volunteering, and fostering a collaborative spirit, and I encourage individuals to continually adapt to evolving technologies and embrace interdisciplinary approaches.
Furthermore, I acknowledge the role of luck, but I’ll emphasize the importance of proactive effort, a strong work ethic, and the courage to pursue new challenges, even if it means starting from scratch. By aligning personal goals, aspirations, and values with the pursuit of excellence in Chemistry Education, individuals can find true fulfillment and make a lasting impact on the scientific community and the world.
Finally, the session will conclude by a short panel discussion involving the speaker, fellow lecturers, and future Chem Ed leaders.
Keywords: Science of Learning; Leadership; Mentoring; Interdisciplinarity; Lifelong Learning
About the Speaker
Fun Man Fung, Ph.D., graduated from National University of Singapore (NUS) and Technische Universität München. He teaches and researches at the School of Chemistry at University College Dublin. Dr. Fung is a YSEALI Professional Fellow (2019) hosted by the Mansfield Center at the University of Montana for his work in civic engagement. Honors and awards include Thieme Chemistry Journals Award (2024), NUS High Inspiring Research Mentor Award (2023); CAS Future LeadersTM Program (2020); Institute of Advanced Studies-Nanyang Technological University-SNIC Chemistry National Meeting Singapore Award for Chemical Education (2020), and D2L Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning by the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Canada (2019).
Dr. Fung is the lead co-editor of two books. The first, titled “10 Things You Must Know About the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO),” published by World Scientific, serves as a comprehensive guide to this competition. The second, “Technology-Enabled Blended Learning Experiences for Chemistry Education and Outreach,” published by Elsevier, serves as a resource for educators and researchers seeking to incorporate technology into STEAM education and its impact on fostering engaging learning experiences.
In 2022, Dr. Fung was elected as a council member of the Singapore National Institute of Chemistry (SNIC), re-elected in 2024. He served as the National Representative of Singapore on the IUPAC Committee on Chemistry Education (CCE) from 2020-2024.
Since 2024, he has been serving as the Associate Editor of Chemistry Teacher International (CTI), an Open Access journal by the Division of Chemistry Education of European Chemical Society and IUPAC CCE.