Salters' Festival of Chemistry
Posted on 15 April 2002
Nearly fifty students from twelve schools in the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire region will enjoy a fun-filled day of chemistry at the Salters' Festival of Chemistry to be held in the Department of Chemistry at the University of York on Friday 19 April 2002. Each school will be represented by a team of four 11-13 year olds.
The Salters' Chemistry Club initiative aims to make chemistry more interesting and attractive to 11-14 year olds by supporting the setting up of chemistry clubs in schools. School chemistry clubs provide the opportunity for students to experiment with 'hands-on' chemistry where there may be limited opportunity within the curriculum. Clubs can also provide a focus for working with local science-based companies and universities.
"The excitement and enthusiasm of the young people shows how much fun chemistry can be" says Dr Alan Mawson, Chairman of the Club.
During the morning of the 19 April the teams will take part in a Practical Challenge in which they will become analytical chemists. In the afternoon, they will compete in a chemical "egg race" when they will be challenged to make a minute timer using an assortment of chemicals, that will alert us with a load bang when the time is up. This will be followed by a fun lecture, entitled Chemistry, Colour and Light presented by Professor Paul Walton from the University of York.
The day will end with a Prize giving at which the winning schools will receive cash prizes and a range of fun prizes for the students.