Expérimenter avec le quotidien : vers une chimie frugale
Abstract
Experimenting with everyday materials: toward frugal chemistry. Laboratory works are a cornerstone of science education. They can support the acquisition of experimental skills, disciplinary knowledge, and reasoning abilities, while also fostering an understanding of the nature of science, the development of transversal skills, and the affective engagement of students. However, the cost of reagents and equipment, limited availability of materials, and the hazards associated with certain chemicals reduce accessibility and have led to a diminished role of practical work in curricula. An alternative is to design so-called GLASS experiments (Green, Low-Cost, Attractive, Safe, and Simple), combining the use of green chemistry principles and readily available household items with the principles of frugality, aiming to conduct relevant, accessible, and sustainable experiments while minimizing resource use and ensuring reliability and safety. These experiments can help illustrate concepts ranging from fundamental principles to more advanced topics, contextualize scientific knowledge, and develop critical thinking – for instance, by comparing results with those obtained using specialized instrument. Beyond their potential deployment in university courses (undergraduate and master’s levels), where specialized equipment remains the norm, they are primarily intended for use in educational settings where resources dedicated to science are structurally more limited, ranging from kindergarten to middle school, as well as in science outreach activities (workshops, exhibitions) and Art-Science projects.
Related
BibTeX
@article{piard2026expérimenter,
title = {{Expérimenter avec le quotidien : vers une chimie frugale}},
author = {Jonathan Piard and Rachel Meallet and Loïc Lebrun},
journal = {L'Actualité Chimique},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.63133/scf.act-chim.2026.518.07},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05756239v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-SA 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Expérimenter avec le quotidien : vers une chimie frugale
AU - Jonathan Piard
AU - Rachel Meallet
AU - Loïc Lebrun
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/23
JO - L'Actualité Chimique
DO - 10.63133/scf.act-chim.2026.518.07
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05756239v1
AB - Experimenting with everyday materials: toward frugal chemistry. Laboratory works are a cornerstone of science education. They can support the acquisition of experimental skills, disciplinary knowledge, and reasoning abilities, while also fostering an understanding of the nature of science, the development of transversal skills, and the affective engagement of students. However, the cost of reagents and equipment, limited availability of materials, and the hazards associated with certain chemicals reduce accessibility and have led to a diminished role of practical work in curricula. An alternative is to design so-called GLASS experiments (Green, Low-Cost, Attractive, Safe, and Simple), combining the use of green chemistry principles and readily available household items with the principles of frugality, aiming to conduct relevant, accessible, and sustainable experiments while minimizing resource use and ensuring reliability and safety. These experiments can help illustrate concepts ranging from fundamental principles to more advanced topics, contextualize scientific knowledge, and develop critical thinking – for instance, by comparing results with those obtained using specialized instrument. Beyond their potential deployment in university courses (undergraduate and master’s levels), where specialized equipment remains the norm, they are primarily intended for use in educational settings where resources dedicated to science are structurally more limited, ranging from kindergarten to middle school, as well as in science outreach activities (workshops, exhibitions) and Art-Science projects.
SN - 0151-9093
SN - 2105-2409
ER -