3 - group discussion -A
1 power point - A
2 - main with power point - A
4

Methods in Chemistry Education Research: MICER@BCCE

MICER is a meeting for those interested in chemistry education research (CER) and who wish to learn more about common methods used when doing CER. The meeting has run since 2015 under the auspices of the Chemistry Education Research Group (CERG) of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). The 2026 BCCE is proud to partner with the RSC CERG to organize the first MICER@BCCE meeting!

 MICER@BCCE 26 will be from Friday 24th July to Sunday 26th July 2026 immediately preceding the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE 2026) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison    An outline schedule is available below.

What Makes MICER@BCCE Unique

MICER@BCCE is an immersive professional development experience designed to strengthen research methods skills while building meaningful collaborations across institutional contexts. Inspired by the long-running Royal Society of Chemistry MICER meeting, this North American iteration creates a welcoming, intellectually rich space for collaborative inquiry, methodological exploration, and research–practice partnerships.

Kick off your BCCE week with a highly interactive learning experience. Unlike traditional conferences that focus on presenting finished work, MICER@BCCE centers the process of doing chemistry education research (CER). Participants will:

  • analyze authentic classroom challenges;
  • co-design instructional interventions and research plans;
  • learn and apply CER data collection and analysis methods to evaluate those interventions; and
  • collaborate with chemistry educators and education researchers across career stages.

MICER@BCCE Highlights

  • Seven hands-on CER methods workshops
  • Three facilitated roundtable discussions
  • Structured community-building events
  • A certificate recognizing participation and engagement

Workshops emphasize applied methods in realistic contexts. Roundtables provide structured time to refine ideas, receive feedback, and identify next steps for collaboration.

Tentative Schedule

Day 1 — Friday (July 24, 2026)
3:00–5:00 PM — Arrival and registration
5:00–6:00 PM — Opening discussion (welcome and goals)
6:00–7:30 PM — Dinner
7:30–8:30 PM — Networking social (introductions, informal mingling)

Day 2 — Saturday (July 25, 2026)
8:00–9:00 AM — Breakfast
9:00–9:40 AM — Workshop 1
9:40–10:20 AM — Workshop 2
10:20–10:40 AM — Coffee break
10:40–11:20 AM — Workshop 3
11:20–12:00 PM — Workshop 4
12:00–1:00 PM — Lunch 1:00–1:40 PM — Workshop 5
1:40–3:00 PM — Roundtable Discussion 1
3:00–5:00 PM — Visit to Henry Vilas Zoo (free admission)
5:00–6:30 PM — Dinner (on your own)
6:30–8:00 PM — Roundtable Discussion 2

Day 3 — Sunday (July 26, 2026)
8:00–9:00 AM — Breakfast
9:00–9:40 AM — Workshop 6
9:40–10:20 AM — Workshop 7
10:20–10:40 AM — Coffee break
10:40 AM–12:00 PM — Roundtable Discussion 3 & preparation for gallery walk
12:00–12:30 PM — Gallery walk of intervention ideas
12:30–1:30 PM — Lunch & closing remarks (patterns and themes from discussions)

Who Should Attend

Participants from diverse institutional contexts and career stages are encouraged to apply. MICER@BCCE will convene:

  • High school chemistry teachers
  • Two-year college faculty
  • Four-year college and university instructors
  • Experienced chemistry education researchers
  • Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars pursuing CER

The strength of MICER@BCCE lies in its cross-sector dialogue and collaborative design.

 Application and Registration

MICER@BCCE registration covers:

  • Dinner on Friday
  • Breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday

Courtesy of the Division of Chemical Education, a limited number of scholarships and travel awards are available to members of ACS Division of Chemistry Education to support participation, particularly for educators and early-career scholars:

  • Travel support to Madison, WI (up to $500)
  • Registration and housing scholarship covering meals and two nights of on-campus housing (approximately $250 value)

Some participants may receive both travel and registration/housing support; others may receive partial support. All scholarships winners will be responsible for paying for their cost upfront and will be reimbursed from the Division of  Chemical Education after the conference.
“Note: there is an option to pay later on the MICER@BCCE registration site if needed. All applications received by April 15 will be reviewed by the third week of April. Subsequent applications will be reviewed by May 15th”.    

 Questions about MICER@BCCE should be directed to Ginger Shultz at bcce2026@union.wisc.edu.