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School of Physical and Chemical Sciences

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  1. School of Physical and Chemical Sciences
  2. Engage
  3. Outreach
  4. In School
  5. Chemistry activities

Chemistry activities

Chemistry staff run a variety of engaging masterclasses and workshops, both at the Mile End campus where the Department of Chemistry is located and in schools across London and the South East.

Below is a list of chemistry outreach activities that target students of various ages.

Chemistry Residential Summer School,  3 days held in June, Y12Students in the chemistry laboratory during the 2022 residential summer school

The Chemistry Residential Summer School at Queen Mary University of London is a three-day program for Year 12 students from Schools based in the UK who have chosen to study chemistry (A level or IB) and are interested in pursuing a degree in Chemical Sciences.

The summer school grants participants the opportunity to experience a Russell Group university and gain a real insight into studying chemistry at a research-intensive institution. The three-day residential school involves workshops, lectures, and laboratory sessions in our £5.5 million world class teaching laboratory. Internationally leading scientists contribute to the delivery of the different activities, and there are opportunities to discuss career options and degree choices.

Spectroscopy Masterclasses, ½-day; Y12/Y13

Always popular, with numerous sessions delivered throughout the year. This session includes a 2-hour theory class, with problem-solving followed by an opportunity to view demonstrations of FTIR, NMR, and GC-MS instrumentation. This class is intended to support and aid an understanding of spectroscopy that forms a part of the AS/A2 chemistry syllabus. Schools can also borrow the 'Spectroscopy in a Suitcase' kit from the RSC which can be used at the school.

Salters’ Festival of Chemistry, 1-day, Y10/11Students in lab coats carrying out an experiment at the Salter's Festival 2019

We are proud to be a host of the ever-popular Salters’ Institute Festivals of Chemistry Discovery Days. Teams of Y10/11 students explore all that chemistry offers as a subject area and as a gateway to many careers, through carrying out experiments in the lab, meeting our alumni, and experiencing an exciting and explosive demonstration lecture.

Chemistry Is Kool – lecture/demonstration, all ages, ~1 hr

This very popular practical and fun talk is aimed for students of all ages (5-18 years) but may be adapted for a non-scientific audience of any age, such as a youth club or society. This session aims to demonstrate the fun and relevance of chemistry in the modern world through a series of bright, loud and often smelly demonstrations using everyday objects and chemicals! The lecture/demonstration can be part of a ½ day visit to QMUL that includes a Campus Tour and a visit to the Department, or can be taken to the school/college.

Other topics on which we can supply speakers include:

  • Why study chemistry?
  • Careers in chemistry/science
  • Chemistry of energy
  • Chemistry of nanoparticles
  • Pharmaceutical chemistry
  • AI tools for education and research
  • Talks on various areas of research carried out within the department

For more information please email us on spcs-outreach@qmul.ac.uk 

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