Young Chemists Rise to University Challenges
Nine Kent schools took part in a fun-filled day at the Salters' Festival of Chemistry held at the University of Greenwich at Medway on Tuesday (May 15).
Each school was represented by a team of four pupils aged between 11 and 13 years. During the morning the teams took part in a competitive, hands-on, practical activity, A Salty Tale, using their analytical chemistry skills to solve a “whodunit” mystery.
In the afternoon, the young students competed in a “University Challenge”, and prepared bouncy balls from a polymer solution. This was followed by a Magic Chemistry lecture, by Professor Steve Leharne from the University of Greenwich at Medway, including exciting chemical demonstrations featuring colour changes and the occasional bang.
Dartford Grammar School for Girls took the top prize in the Salty Tale mystery while Newstead Wood School for Girls, Bromley, was awarded first place for its team’s ability to create polymer balls.
Other schools taking part in the Festival of Chemistry were Fort Pitt Grammar School for Girls, Chatham; Greenacre School, Chatham; Holmesdale Technology College, Snodland; Rainham School for Girls, Gillingham; Gravesend Grammar School for Boys; Invicta Grammar School, Maidstone; and Ravensbourne School, Bromley.
Professor John Nicholson, of the University of Greenwich at Medway, said: “The day went very well and everyone taking part enjoyed the chemistry challenges.”
The Salters' Festivals of Chemistry are an initiative of The Salters' Institute, which promotes the appreciation of chemistry and related sciences among young people.
The festival at the University of Greenwich at Medwaywas one of a series of 55 festivals taking place at universities throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland this year.
The institute is delighted that the Royal Society of Chemistry is again working in partnership with it for the festivals this year.
For further information about The Salters’ Institute and Festivals of Chemistry visit www.festivalsofchemistry.co.uk. For further information about science at the University of Greenwich visit www.gre.ac.uk or call 0800 005 006.
For further media information, broadcast, photographic and interview opportunities, please contact:
· University of Greenwich at Medway Public Relations, tel: 020 8331 9420
· Delphine Houlton, Andrew Metcalf or Jez Durrant, at Maxim, tel: 01892 513033
Editors Notes
1. The Festivals of Chemistry 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 2007 there will be a series of 55 festivals 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.
2. 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 past six years more than 15,500 students have experienced the fun of practical chemistry through the Salters' Festivals of Chemistry.
3. Since 1991 sponsorship in support of the festivals has been raised from over 100 companies. Many of the festivals are also sponsored by local companies.
4. The Salters’ Company is one of the Great Twelve City of London Livery Companies and was founded in 1394 for the mediaeval 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' activities, 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.
5. The institute’s three core activities are the Salters’ Chemistry Club and Salters' Festivals of Chemistry for 11 to 14 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.
6. The University of Greenwich has offered degree courses in chemistry since the 1930s, and is now the only provider of degree-level education in chemistry in Kent. Chemistry is offered at the Medway campus, in recently refurbished accommodation, and is one of a suite of chemistry-related degree courses which also includes analytical chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmaceutical science.