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Festival of Chemistry goes with a bang – University of Reading

Salters' Festival of Chemistry at The University of Reading School of Chemistry, Wednesday 21 April 2004. 60 students from 15 schools in the Reading area will enjoy a fun-filled day of chemistry at the Salters' Festival of Chemistry to be held at The University of Reading on Wednesday 21 April, 2004. Local schools include Ryeish Green Comprehensive, The Embrook School, The Kennet School, Bearwood School, Highdown School, Reading Blue Coat School and The Abbey School. Each school will be represented by a team of four 11-13 year olds. During the morning, the teams will take part in a competitive, hands-on, forensic science activity, "The Salterstown Mystery" in which they will use their analytical chemistry skills. In the afternoon, they will compete in the "University Challenge", a practical activity chosen by the University. This will be followed by a fun lecture, by Dr Fred Davis on Colourful Chemistry. The day will end with a Prizegiving at which the winning teams will be awarded cash prizes for their schools and all participants will be given individual fun prizes and participation certificates. The Salters' Festivals of Chemistry are an initiative of The Salters' Institute, whose aim is to promote the appreciation of chemistry and related sciences among the young. The Festival at The University of Reading is one of a series of 47 festivals which are taking place at universities throughout the UK and Ireland between March and June 2004. end For more information, please contact: Dr Elizabeth Page The School of Chemistry The University of Reading Tel No: 0118 378 8457 E-mail: e.m.page@reading.ac.uk Miss Lesley Grout Communications Manager The Salters' Institute Tel No: 020 7628 5962 ext 260 E-mail: publicity@salters.co.uk Website: http://www.festivalsofchemistry.co.uk Notes for editors 1. The festivals are one-day events for schools held at universities throughout the UK and Ireland. The first series of Festivals was held in 1991. Festivals were then held in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2000. Since 2000, festivals have been held every year. In 2004, there will be a series of 47 festivals between March and June. The aim of the festivals is to make chemistry more exciting, more relevant and fun to students aged 11 to 13 years and to encourage schools to set up their own chemistry clubs. 2. Competing schools are represented by a team of four students from years 7 or 8 (or equivalent in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland). Cash prizes for the winning schools totalling £350 are awarded at each festival and all participants receive fun prizes and certificates. During the last three years over 5,000 students have experienced the fun of practical chemistry through the Salters' Festivals of Chemistry. 3. Since 1991 sponsorship in support of the festivals has been raised from over 100 companies. Many of the festivals are also sponsored by local companies. 4. The Salters' Company is one of the Great Twelve City of London Livery Companies and was founded in 1394 for the mediaeval trade in salt. The Company's activities today are centred on charitable and educational giving. The Salters' Institute, established in 1918, and now the Flagship Charity of the Salters' activities, aims to promote the appreciation of chemistry and related sciences among the young and to encourage careers in the teaching of chemistry and in the UK chemical and allied industries. 5. The Institute's three core activities are the Salters Chemistry Club and Salters' Festivals of Chemistry for 11 to 14 year olds; Salters' Chemistry Camps for those aged 15, in partnership with other scientific institutions, and Curriculum Development, undertaken at The University of York, including Salters GCSE Science and 21st Century Science and Salters Advanced Chemistry, Salters Horners Advanced Physics and Salters-Nuffield Advanced Biology. For more information, please contact: Miss Lesley Grout Communications Manager The Salters' Institute Tel No: 020 7628 5962 ext 260 E-mail: publicity@salters.co.uk Website: http://www.festivalsofchemistry.co.uk