Chemistry through Tattoo Inks: A Multilevel Approach to a Practice on the Rise for Eliciting Interest in Chemical Education

Within the framework of a nationwide
project to boost students’
enrollment in scientific disciplines in Italy, a multilevel science
project was designed with a focus on the chemistry of tattoo inks,
offering immediate connection with 16–18 year-old high school
students. The approach takes into account time constraints, since
all sessions have a maximum span of 8 h, and the heterogeneity of
the audience, made up of students without background restrictions.
Tattoos are perceived as a form of body art and can be conveniently
used as the “A” in the STEAM (science, technology, engineering,
art, and mathematics) methodology. The project involved active lectures
and guided inquiry into the simple chemical concepts related to tattoo
inks, addressed in practical units with multioutcome experiments and
comparative instrumental analysis. The connections with correlated
issues, such as norms regarding tattoo ink composition and verification,
were also discussed. The efficacy of the tattoo ink Scientific Degree
Plan experience was then evaluated through two types of surveys: one
on the enjoyment of the plan and the other on mastery of the chemical
concepts at the end of the experience.