Hands-on chemistry beckons for Yorkshire schools
Posted on 8 April 2008
During the morning the teams will take part in a competitive, hands-on, practical activity, Who Pinched the Salt? in which they will use their analytical chemistry skills. Later, they will compete in the 'University Challenge', in which they will be required to find out which sunscreen is most effective at blocking out harmful UV light.
This will be followed by a fun lecture, Colourful Chemistry presented by Dr Annie Hodgson, in which she will explore how chemistry has brought colour into our lives, from dyes that change colour when they are heated to the spectacle of a firework display.
It is wonderful to see that so many young people are really switched on to chemistry
Dr Annie Hodgson
The day ends with a ceremony at which all participants will be given individual fun prizes and participation certificates, and the winning teams will be awarded cash prizes for their schools.
Dr Hodgson said: "It is wonderful to see that so many young people are really switched on to chemistry. I am looking forward to seeing them at work in the labs, they always take part in the challenges with such enthusiasm."
The Salters' Festivals of Chemistry are an initiative of The Salters' Institute, whose aim is to promote the appreciation of chemistry and related sciences among the young. The Festival at the University of York is one of a series of 53 Festivals which are taking place at Universities throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland between March and June 2008.
The Royal Society of Chemistry is again working in partnership with The Salter’s Institute for the Festivals this year.
For more information please contact: Dr Annie Hodgson on 01904 433022 (or via Helen Fagan on 01904 432509) or abh2@york.ac.uk.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- The Department of Chemistry at the University of York is a large and successful department in an attractive campus, with an excellent reputation for both teaching and research. The department was graded 5A in the last Research Assessment Exercise. The 2007 National Student Survey rated chemistry courses at York as the best in the UK for overall student satisfaction. It has 47 full-time members of staff including many winners of international prizes, over 420 undergraduate students, approximately 130 graduates (mainly studying for PhDs) and 80 research fellows. Its laboratories were recently extended and modernised. In 2007 the chemistry department at York was the first academic department in the UK to be given a gold award from the Athena SWAN Charter for Women in Science. These awards are granted in recognition of excellence in science, engineering and technology employment in higher education in relation to supporting women in science.
- The Festivals are one-day events for schools held at Universities throughout the UK and Ireland. The first series of Festivals was held in 1991. Festivals were then held in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000. Since 2000, Festivals have been held every year. In 2008 there will be a series of 53 Festivals being hosted by 45 universities between March and June. The aim of the Festivals is to make chemistry more exciting, more relevant and fun to students aged 11 to 13 years and to encourage schools to set up their own chemistry clubs.
- Competing schools are represented by a team of four students from Years 7 or 8 (or equivalent in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland). Cash prizes for the winning schools totalling £350 are awarded at each Festival and all participants receive fun prizes and certificates. During the last seven years over 18,700 students have experienced the fun of practical chemistry through the Salters' Festivals of Chemistry.
- Since 1991, sponsorship support of the Festivals has been raised from over one hundred companies. Many of the Festivals are also sponsored by local companies.
- The Salters’ Company is one of the Great Twelve City of London Livery Companies and was founded in 1394 for the medieval trade in salt. The Company’s activities today are centred on charitable and educational giving. The Salters' Institute, established in 1918, and now the Flagship Charity of the Salters' Company, aims to promote the appreciation of chemistry and related sciences among the young and to encourage careers in the teaching of chemistry and in the UK chemical and allied industries.
- The Institute’s three core activities are the Salters' Festivals of Chemistry for 11 to 13 year olds; Salters' Chemistry Camps for those aged 15, in partnership with other scientific institutions, and Curriculum Development, undertaken at The University of York, including Twenty First Century Science and Salters Advanced Chemistry, Salters Horners Advanced Physics and Salters-Nuffield Advanced Biology.
- For more information please contact: Miss Fleur Layzell, Publicity Co-ordinator, The Salters' Institute on 020 7628 5962 ext 260, or at publicity@salters.co.uk. Website: www.festivalsofchemistry.co.uk.