Sowing the seeds of change: Students taking the lead in chemical education research projects

This article outlines the benefits to institutions of engaging students (undergraduate and postgraduate) in carrying out education research projects. The activity outlined herein is probably best described as „action research‟, which potentially lays the foundation for chemical education research in the future. These projects aim to identify (or develop) best practice and provide the evidence to convince occasionally cynical academics that a new approach is effective in enhancing learning and/or the student experience. The benefits to the students carrying out the projects in terms of skills development and increased confidence are discussed, along with the benefits to academics and their institutions.