What is 13ISMC26?
The 13th International Symposium on Microscale Chemistry (13ISMC26) will bring together teachers, technicians, academics and education professionals who are passionate about practical chemistry. The focus is on microscale and small-scale techniques (MaSSTs) in teaching and learning, with an emphasis on safer, more efficient and more sustainable practice.
Why it matters
Microscale chemistry is not just about shrinking the size of experiments. It is about making practical work safer, more inclusive and more relevant to today’s classrooms. The symposium will explore:
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New equipment and procedures designed for smaller-scale work.
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Tackling common misconceptions that prevent students becoming confident chemists.
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Reducing cognitive load with clear instructions and dual coding.
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Ensuring labs with limited space or budget can still deliver high-quality practical work.
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Connecting classroom chemistry to the real world and to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 4: Quality Education.
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Safety in small-scale setups.
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Inclusion and accessibility for all learners.
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Making use of modern tools such as visualisers, mobile phones and USB microscopes to help every student see the chemistry.
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Sharing good practice with exam boards, textbook authors and policymakers so MaSSTs are widely recognised and adopted.
Who should attend
This is a conference designed for:
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Chemistry teachers
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School and college science technicians
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Academics and researchers in chemical education
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Education professionals developing curriculum and assessment
If you have experience of microscale or small-scale teaching and want to showcase it, you can submit a proposal. The deadline is 1 January 2026. https://sites.google.com/view/13ismc26/home
Why it matters for our community
For those of us working in chemistry education, there are clear benefits:
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Better teaching: methods that make concepts clearer and more manageable for students.
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Cost and environmental savings: using smaller amounts of chemicals reduces waste and hazards.
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Innovation: the chance to learn new approaches and equipment from colleagues around the world.
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Staying ahead: understanding how small-scale techniques fit with curriculum, assessment and policy changes.
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Empowerment: making practical work accessible and engaging for every student.
Next steps
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If you are interested, take a look at your own practice and think about where small-scale methods could be applied.
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If you are already using them, consider sharing your experiences through a proposal.
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Follow the updates from 13ISMC26 and add the dates to your diary.
Final thoughts
Microscale chemistry has the potential to transform how we teach practical science. The 13th International Symposium on Microscale Chemistry will be an important opportunity to share ideas, learn from others and strengthen the case for small-scale techniques in classrooms across the world.