Outreach
The School of Chemistry strongly believes in engaging with the next generation of scientists through a wide range of activities such as science discovery open days for school and college students from primary to pre-university level. The School is keen to share its fascination with chemistry and present the latest in research findings to as wide an audience as possible.
The School welcomes approaches from external organisations, groups and individuals to interact and participate in the world of chemistry.
Upcoming activities
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26th National Meeting for Scottish Teachers of Chemistry Friday 26th May 2022
27th National Meeting for Scottish Teachers of Chemistry (Friday 26th May 2022). The meeting will be in person at St Andrews within the School of Chemistry (10.00am – 3.00pm) This meeting is for all Teachers and Educators of Chemistry in Scotland, and also for those that support that enterprise. Registration is FREE but it is required, such that delegates receive a link to enter the meeting.
Recent events
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26th National Meeting for Scottish Teachers of Chemistry Thursday 19th May 2022
26th National Meeting for Scottish Teachers of Chemistry (Thursday 19th May 2022 16.30–18.30 on Teams) This meeting is for all Teachers and Educators of Chemistry in Scotland, and also for those that support that enterprise. Registration is FREE but it is required, such that delegates receive a link to enter the meeting.
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Exciting demonstration lectures to local school students
Each Christmas, we invite expert and enthusiastic chemists to give exciting demonstration lectures to local school students at the School of Chemistry. More details to follow.
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Engaging pupils during school visits in Fife, Perth & Kinross, Angus and Dundee.
The ChemBus usually makes six day trips per year to schools in Fife, Perth & Kinross, Angus and Dundee (three during November and three in February, details will be sent out to Schools in advance). The ChemBus is organised by the Tayside local section of the Royal Society of Chemistry although it is heavily supported by St Andrews staff and students. Please contact us by e-mail for details, chem-rsc@st-andrews.ac.uk.
ChemBus Information/FAQs (also available as a PDF)
What is ChemBus?
ChemBus is a minibus that takes chemistry experiments and demonstrations designed for S1 and S2 pupils out to Schools in Tayside, Angus, Fife and Perthshire. Our team is usually made up of seven members of staff/students from the University of St Andrews.
What happens during a ChemBus visit?
Demonstration
We start with a short demonstration, about 15 to 20 minutes long, centred around the properties of gases. We try to make this demonstration very interactive asking the pupils questions and getting them to help with some experiments, e.g. dipping flowers into liquid nitrogen. Questions include asking the pupils to name the gases in the atmosphere and to estimate the temperature of liquid nitrogen. When possible, we give out prizes for correct answers.Hands-on activities
The rest of the ChemBus visit consists of four hands-on activities for the pupils. The groups are split into four and we try to get them to have a go at as many activities as possible in the available time. By necessity this is very flexible and very much dependent on the timings at individual schools. The four activities are outlined below1. Making Invisible Inks
2. Properties of Polymers
3. Properties of Carbon Dioxide
4. Making Gold CoinsHow many people can participate in each ChemBus session?
Typically we see 25-40 pupils per session.
How long is a ChemBus session?
Each session lasts for the duration of a teaching period in the host school (usually 40-50 minutes).
Can ChemBus visit our school for a full school day?
Yes! We actually have three options (this is dictated by school availability and bus route for that day)
1. We can do a full school day, typically this would allow ~200 pupils to take part over 6/7 sessions.
2. We can do a morning, usually 1st period through to lunchtime, depending on our travel time to the next destination (typically 4 sessions, we may have to leave slightly earlier to get to our next school).
3. We can do an afternoon, usually from lunchtime until the final period of the day (typically 2 sessions).What does the school need to provide?
Ideally we need 2 laboratory class rooms (one for the demo, one for hands-on activities) access to gas for Bunsen burners and ideally a fume cupboard. Other than that all we need is local information, such as lesson times, length of lessons and number of pupils in each session. In addition, directions to the school and any other appropriate information would be very much appreciated.
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December 2019
Each Christmas, the School invites expert and enthusiastic chemists to give exciting demonstration lectures to local school students at the School of Chemistry.
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November 2018 to February 2019
The ChemBus usually makes six day trips per year to schools in Fife, Perth and Kinross, Angus and Dundee (three during November and three in February, details will be sent out to schools in advance).
The ChemBus is organised by the Tayside local section of the Royal Society of Chemistry although it is heavily supported by University of St Andrews staff and students. Please email the School for details: chem-rsc@st-andrews.ac.uk.
ChemBus information
What is ChemBus?
ChemBus is a minibus that takes chemistry experiments and demonstrations designed for S1 and S2 pupils out to schools in Tayside, Angus, Fife and Perthshire. The team is usually made up of seven members of staff and students from the University of St Andrews.
What happens during a ChemBus visit?
Demonstration
The visit starts with a short demonstration, about 15 to 20 minutes long, centred around the properties of gases. Demonstrators try to make this very interactive, asking the pupils questions and getting them to help with some experiments, for example, dipping flowers into liquid nitrogen.Questions include asking the pupils to name the gases in the atmosphere and to estimate the temperature of liquid nitrogen. When possible, prizes are provided for correct answers.
Hands-on activities
The rest of the ChemBus visit consists of four hands-on activities for the pupils. The groups are split into four and demonstrators try to get them to try as many activities as possible in the available time. By necessity this is very flexible and very much dependent on the timings at individual schools. The four activities are:- Making invisible inks
- Properties of polymers
- Properties of carbon dioxide
- Making gold coins.
How many people can participate in each ChemBus session?
Typically there are 25 to 40 pupils per session.
How long is a ChemBus session?
Each session lasts for the duration of a teaching period in the host school (usually 40 to 50 minutes).
Can ChemBus visit our school for a full school day?
Yes, there are actually three options (this is dictated by school availability and bus route for that day).
- A full school day, typically this would allow around 200 pupils to take part over 6 to 7 sessions.
- A morning session, usually 1st period through to lunchtime, depending on the travel time to the next destination (typically 4 sessions, the bus may have to leave slightly earlier to get to the next school).
- An afternoon, usually from lunchtime until the final period of the day (typically 2 sessions).
What does the school need to provide?
Ideally there needs to be two laboratory classrooms (one for the demo, one for hands-on activities), access to gas for Bunsen burners and a fume cupboard.
Other than that, all that is necessary is local information, such as lesson times, length of lessons and number of pupils in each session. In addition, directions to the school and any other appropriate information would be appreciated.
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13 February 2019
As part of the University’s First Chances programme, sixteen National 5 and Higher School students visited the School of Chemistry. They took part in a hands-on study of the links between the structure of certain molecules and their fragrance, as used in cosmetics and perfumes etc, given by Dr Alan Aitken, and then learned about renewable energy and fuel cell technology in a lecture from Dr Richard Baker.
The picture shows how a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (a PEMFC) works. These are electrochemical devices - similar to batteries - that convert chemical energy from a fuel like Hydrogen and an oxidant, usually oxygen from air, directly to electrical energy in the electrical circuit attached to the two electrodes. They are very efficient and much more environmentally friendly than power generation systems based on burning fossil fuels.
The First Chances scheme is a major initiative of the University of St Andrews.
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22nd and 23rd July 2019
Twenty-nine high school students from all over the World visited the University to take part in the Summer Academic Experience Course (SAEC) summer school. They took part in a wide range of events and attended lectures and laboratory classes in Science subjects. This year, in Chemistry, they attended lectures on Renewable Energy and Fuel Cells and about the use of Electron microscopes to analyse materials. Many researchers at the School of Chemistry carry out research on new technology for generating electricity including fuel cells, new kinds of batteries based on Lithium and Sodium ions, and solar cells. The School also has excellent Electron Microscope facilities.
In the afternoons, the students completed two sessions where they worked in the undergraduate teaching laboratories. In the first session the students evaluated two potential compounds for use as selective extractants for copper ions. This process is used industrially to concentrate and purify copper metal from a variety of ores.
In the second session the students isolated pigments from spinach leaves. These molecules are essential to allow the plants to photosynthesise. Firstly they extracted the leaves to remove the pigment compounds, they were then able to purify the resulting extract and isolate each pigment compound (in this case, b-carotene, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b). Finally, all the samples were analysed using UV-visible spectroscopy.
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1 July to 5 July 2019
For many years, the University has organised a Summer School in association with the educational charity, the Sutton Trust. Visiting high school students from all over the UK attended lectures and other events in Science subjects. This year, in Chemistry, they attended five lectures. These covered Renewable Energy and Fuel Cells; the use of Electron Microscopes to analyse materials; new materials with unusual electrical properties known as ferroelectrics; the chemical structure of molecules used to give fragrances to perfumes and cosmetics; and how Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy can be used to determine the structure of molecules. In the photo, Dr Tomas Lebl shows the NMR laboratories to visitors.
The Sutton Trust is a major educational charity with whom the University of St Andrews have long links.