Each school will be represented by a team of four 11- to 13- year olds at the event. During the morning the teams will take part in a competitive, hands-on, practical activity, ‘A Salty Tale’ 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, in which they will be required to use their measurement, observational and team working skills. This will be followed by a demonstration lecture, by Tim Harrison and Dudley Shallcross, entitled ‘A Pollutant’s Tale’, involving aspects of atmospheric chemistry.
The day will end with a prize-giving event at which all participants will be given individual prizes and participation certificates. The winning teams will be awarded cash prizes for their schools. Dr Alice Roberts of BBC2’s Coast, Time Team and Don’t Die Young will be presenting the prizes and 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 Bristol 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.
The Festival at the University of Bristol is also sponsored by Bristol ChemLabS, England’s only Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning purely in Chemistry. The School of Chemistry at Bristol University is one of only ten national chemistry departments rated as excellent in teaching and is one of six rated at 5* for research.
The event takes place on Thursday, 29 March in the School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol.