School kids rise to the challenge in a day of chemistry, sci-fi and murder mystery

<tiptext>Annual Salters' Festival of Chemistry lets pupils try their science skills in a university lab<em> - News<em>

By Danielle Reeves
Friday 15 June 2007

Sixty-four school children from across greater London descended on the chemistry labs of Imperial College today, to use their scientific skills in a competition to solve a murder mystery and a science-fiction puzzle.

The children, aged 11-13, competed against each other in 16 school teams to carry out a number of practical science experiments in two separate challenges, as part of the Salters' Festival of Chemistry. Their morning's task involved running a series of tests on an unknown metal sample to identify it, which would help the pupils to solve a 'whodunnit' murder mystery called 'A Salty Tale.' In the afternoon the school teams competed again, this time in a Star Trek science fiction role play, which involved using practical chemistry skills to attempt to stabilise the temperature of a chemical solution over a period of time.

The young people's teams were assessed by Imperial's Professor Andrew de Mello  and a team of student judges on their practical abilities, team work and safe use of apparatus in one of the College's undergraduate chemistry laboratories.

The Salters' Festival of Chemistry is a national event run by the Salters' Institute, whose aim is to promote the appreciation of chemistry and related sciences among the young. The Festival at Imperial is one of a series of fifty-five Festivals which are taking place at universities throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland between March and June 2007.

Molly, a year 8 pupil, from Claremont High School in north-west London, who attended the event, said: "I really enjoyed today. We had two hours this morning to try and solve a murder mystery which was good fun. I really like the subject of chemistry as you can experiment with anything and there is always an element of surprise."

Dr Jodie Kirk, who organises outreach events for Imperial's chemistry department, and other science activities and summer schools for the College, said: "We're delighted to be involved, once again, with the annual Salters' Festival of Chemistry. This event gives us a great opportunity to invite young people from our region into the College, to give them a feel for university life, and let them experience, first hand, working in a fully-equipped chemistry lab. I hope that this experience will encourage some of these children to consider pursuing further studies in chemistry and the sciences – hopefully we’ll be welcoming some of them here to study at Imperial in a few years' time!"

The day's events were rounded off by a demonstration lecture by former Imperial academic Dr Ilya Eigenbrot, entitled 'Test-tube dinners: the chemistry of food and cooking.' Cash prizes for the winning schools totalling £350 were awarded at the end of the day, with all participants receiving fun prizes and certificates.

The Imperial Outreach office runs open days, mentoring in schools, widening participation activities, science activities and summer schools. The team runs a programme of one-day events for young people, including 'colour chemistry day' where Imperial scientists team up with artists to deliver hands-on workshops on the theme of colour, and robotics workshops. Imperial also runs a number of different mentoring schemes where students from the College's faculties provide peer-support and tutoring to school pupils studying science.

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