Experimenting with science at Teesside University

A chance to see how science can be applied to everyday life was explored by young students taking part in chemistry events hosted at Teesside University.

Children from schools across Teesside and Durham visited the University to take part in the Salters’ Festival of Chemistry.

The Salters’ Institute holds festivals across the country to promote the appreciation of chemistry and related sciences among the young. The festival hosted at Teesside University was one of 48 taking place at universities across the UK and Ireland.

During the event, the children had to solve a mystery which involved testing salts to identify elements, then use this to solve a forensic puzzle by working as a team.

Audrey Strong, of the Salters’ Institute, said: 'For the children, visiting a university lab is very different to a school lab and events such as this help to give them more time than they might have in school lessons to work through experiments.'

Rebecca Kitchener, 13, of Bydales Technology College, Marske, said: 'We’ve been looking at chemical reactions and it’s been really good. I’m really interested in chemistry and I’ve enjoyed doing the experiments.'

Maria Ghafoor, 13, of Macmillan Academy, Middlesbrough, said: 'I’ve really enjoyed the experiments which involved flame tests to find the non-metal and metal parts of salt.'

Edward Day, 13, of Carmel RC College, Darlington, said: 'We have been mixing chemicals together to see what happens, it’s been really fun. It’s been great using the University’s labs, they are really big and there’s so much equipment. I’m really interesting in studying at university, doing something in maths or science.'

Also held recently at Teesside University was the Chemistry at Work event, sponsored by the Royal Society of Chemistry, Cleveland Scientific Institution and PerkinElmer.

Representatives from the region’s industry, education and hospitals delivered demonstrations and presentations in diverse subjects ranging from industrial manufacturing processes to forensic chemistry and biochemistry to show the importance and applications of chemistry to daily life.

Participants include Tata Steel, BOC, Northumbrian Water, Teesside University, James Cook University Hospital, North Tees University Hospital, Fujifim Diosynth Biotechnologies and GSK.

Among those taking part was Kate Nevin, 13, from St John’s School, Bishop Auckland. She said: 'It was really interesting hearing all the different presentations and getting involved in the different experiments.'

Leila Elliott, of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Teesside Local Section, said: 'I’ve been involved in Chemistry at Work at Teesside University for 15 years and want to express my gratitude to everyone who has been involved in its continued success, from technicians in the University’s School of Science & Engineering to academics and the University’s catering staff. The feedback from students, teachers and presenters indicates how worthwhile they all find the event.'

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