News

Monday 6 November 2006

Flashes, bangs, colours and smells for budding chemists (Chemistry Week 6 - 10 November)

Making slime, building molecules and examining the properties of liquid nitrogen will be projects undertaken by budding scientists as part of Chemistry Week at Nottingham Trent University. Pupils from schools across the East Midlands will descend on the University’s new Centre for Effective Learning in Science (CELS) building at the Clifton campus to take part in a range of fun and exciting hands-on activities and demonstrations.

In 'Fireworks, Stink-bombs and Magic Bullet Medicines', youngsters will be introduced to the flashes, bangs, colours and smells which make chemistry so exciting and help to create some of the most advanced medicines in the world. Older pupils will attend a lecture which demonstrates how science is used in the fight against art forgery.

During a 'Snap, Crackle and Snot' activity session pupils will study liquid nitrogen and make slime, while in 'Colour, Goo and You' – run in collaboration with the University of Nottingham – they will build molecules and learn about colour chemistry and DNA.

The event, which aims to promote chemistry to youngsters, is being hosted by the University’s Centre for Effective Learning in Science (CELS).

CELS Outreach Coordinator Georgina Westbrook said: “CELS feels that chemistry as a subject is incredibly important for everyone to appreciate as it affects so much of what goes on around us. By hosting events such as this we are hoping to show people of all ages how exciting, fun and essential chemistry is.”

ENDS

Notes for editors: CELS aims to create a more relevant, accessible and achievable image for science within both the higher education and school communities. Based on the University’s excellent record in science teaching and nationally recognised widening participation activities, CELS will enable academic teams to develop and trial new approaches to teaching and presenting science to both communities.

Press enquiries please contact: Dave Rogers, Press Officer, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8782, or via email, or Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8774, or via email.