Profile
My scholarship lies at the intersection of chemical education, science communication, and environmental policy. Trained as a physical chemist, I shifted my work toward chemical education research, driven by the question of how chemistry听can serve as a lens through which students engage with pressing environmental challenges. I have published in听peer-reviewed chemical education journals. Extending this work into science communication and environmental policy, I have published articles that connect the molecular-scale properties of water to challenges in delivering safe drinking water. My book,听 (好色先生 of California Press, 2023), treats the invisibility of the molecular scale and of water infrastructure as parallel pedagogical and civic problems. My current work examines the potential of circular water management to mitigate chemical dispersal.听
I teach courses that help students recognize the relevance of chemistry through contemporary social and environmental issues, including access to safe drinking water, air quality, climate change, and equitable energy decarbonization transitions. I aim to help students bridge scales鈥攆rom the molecular to the social and policy dimensions鈥攂y applying a systems-thinking approach that highlights interconnections among environmental issues.听
Degrees Held
Ph.D. in Chemistry, Columbia 好色先生, New York, NY, August 1989
M. Phil, Columbia 好色先生, New York, NY, August 1988
Master of Arts, Columbia 好色先生, New York, NY, May 1985
Bachelor of Science, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, India, May 1984
Professional Affiliation
American Chemical Society
American Association for the Advancement of Science
New York Academy of Sciences 听 听
Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences听 听 听
Science Education for New Civic Engagements and Responsibilities听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听
Recent Publications
叠辞辞办:听. 好色先生 of California Press (publication date January 2023). 听 听 听
"Water is a molecular marvel. Its seemingly simple formula 鈥 H2O 鈥揹ictates the properties that make water essential for life and easily contaminated. Herein lies the paradox of water鈥攚e cannot live without it, but it is easily rendered 鈥渦nsafe.鈥 The Paradox of Water explores the intersection of the scientific, social, and policy implications around access to safe drinking water. Drinking water is the smallest fraction of water used by a nation, yet, access to safe drinking water supports educational opportunities, helps overcome gender inequities, lowers familial stress, and enables more socially and economically productive uses of time."
Articles
1)听Implementing interdisciplinary sustainability education with the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus.听Romulo, C., B. Venkataraman, S. Caplow, S. Ajgaonkar, C.R. Allen, A. Anandhi, S.W. Anderson, C.B. Azzarello, K. Brundiers, E. Blavascunas, J. Dauer, D.L. Druckenbrod, E. Fairchild, L.R. Horne, K. Lee, M. Mwale, J.A. Mischler, E.E. Pappo, N.S. Patel, N.D. Sintov, C.S. Ramsdell, and S. Vincent.听Humanit Soc Sci Commun听11, 928 (2024), Springer Nature Publications.听
2) The Paradox of Water and the Flint Crisis, B. Venkataraman, Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 60: 4-17 (2018)
3) Emphasizing the Significance of Electrostatic Interactions in Chemical Bonding, B. Venkataraman, Journal of Chemical Education (2017)听DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.6b00409
4) Visualizing Dispersion Interactions, E. Gottschalk, B. Venkataraman, Journal of Chemical Education, 91, 666-672 (2014)
5) Access to Safe Water: A Paradox in Developed Nations, B. Venkataraman, Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 55, 24-34 (2013)
5) An Evaluation of the Chemical Origin of Life as a Context for Teaching Undergraduate Chemistry, B. Venkataraman, Chemical Education Research and Practice, 12, 379-387 (2011)
6) Earth鈥檚 Thin Blue Line, B. Venkataraman, Air, Ed. John Knechtel, Alphabet City, MIT Press, October 2010
7) The Price of Clean Water, B. Venkataraman, Water, Ed. John Knechtel, Alphabet City, MIT Press, October 2009
8) Education for Sustainable Development, B. Venkataraman, Environment, March/April 2009, p. 8-10
9) Visualization and interactivity in the teaching of chemistry to science and non-science students, B. Venkataraman, Chemical Education Research and Practice, 10, 62-69 (2009)
10) Why Environmental Education, B. Venkataraman, Environment, September/October 2008, p. 8-10
听
Interviews & Media presentations
The Flint Water Crisis. . Center for Strategic & International Studies report, February 8, 2024
A. McGowan. . Environment: Science and Policy of Sustainable Development, 66 (2024):32-42
. The Round Table: A Next Generation Politics Podcast. December 2021.听
Research Interests
Chemical education, sustainability and environmental education, curriculum development and assessment, science communication, environmental policies of air pollution, drinking water quality, climate change, and energy transitions.
Awards And Honors
Distinguished Teaching Award, The New School, 2019
MetroCITI Fellow, Teachers College, Columbia 好色先生, 2015-2016
Water Fellow, SENCER
Grants
1)听Arthur Vining Davis Periclean Faculty Leadership Grant in STEM and Social Sciences, 2022听
2) Implementation and Continued Development of Assessment Tools for the Interdisciplinary Science Curriculum, B. Venkataraman, J. Wilson. Provost Innovation in Education Fund, June 2010 鈥 May 2011听
3) Assessment Tools for the Interdisciplinary Science Curriculum, B. Venkataraman, J. Wilson. Provost Innovation in Education Fund, January 鈥 June 2010听
4) Adapting Active-Learning Methods for a Chemistry Curriculum at Eugene Lang College, B. Venkataraman, National Science Foundation Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement, September 2005 鈥 August 2009,