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UCL Chemistry students wow Year 8 pupils

25 September 2012

What do you get if you combine 70 school children, enthusiastic teachers, magnets, bubbles, giant models of molecules and hard water? Answer: the UCL Chemistry schools Outreach day! On Wednesday 19th September 70 Year 8 pupils from Oasis Academy Enfield and Overton Grange Sutton arrive at the UCL Chemistry department for a demonstration workshop, a tour of the university and question and answer session on what it's like to study science.

Chemistry outreach

The demonstrations, all prepared by UCL Chemistry students, were developed to be taken into schools as part of the department's outreach efforts to enthuse and excite children with the science around them. From making models of diamond to working out how soap molecules clean grease, why hard water leaves scum on your tea and how you can make something levitate with no trickery a great day was had by all.

"The students enjoyed the day, and I thought it was beneficial," said Miss Bray of Overton Grange who is hoping to benefit from more Outreach involvement for her sixth form students at next year's spectroscopy workshops.

Jane Yates (UCL Chemistry) who coordinated the visit said: "The UCL students really enjoyed the day. Having the opportunity to hone your talks on home territory is unusual."

Schools will be invited to request these workshops in the coming academic year.

Photos from the day (taken by Penny Carmichael and Neel Makwana) :

Links:

UCL Chemistry