School pupils from across the North-east will have the chance to get hands-on in the University of Aberdeen’s Chemistry laboratories when a popular, annual, schools event is held this week.
Pupils studying Advanced Higher Chemistry will be attending the Spectroscopy event, hosted by the University’s Department of Chemistry, tomorrow (Wednesday, November 30).
The event has proved so popular that it will be repeated next week, on Wednesday, December 7.
The event has been organised by the S6 Enhancement Unit, which was set up nearly three years ago as part of the Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University, with the principal aim of supporting sixth year pupils studying Advanced Highers.
Spectroscopy involves the use of instruments called spectrometers to find out about the structures of chemical substances.
The event will give students of Advanced Higher Chemistry the opportunity to explore Spectroscopy through a varied programme including short lectures, demonstrations and practical activities.
All students will see demonstrations of a range of instruments in use for research in the Chemistry Department. The use of an infrared spectrophotometer will be shown in detail in the lecture theatre with the use of a video camera to permit projection of a large image onto the screen. The lectures will give a simple introduction to the theory behind the spectroscopic topics included in the Advanced Higher syllabus, and give examples of how and why they are used by working scientists.
The programme has been designed to articulate with the Advanced Higher syllabus and was developed in consultation with local teachers’ groups.
It is expected that 228 students and 27 teachers from local Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire schools, as well as groups from further afield, including Moray, Highlands and Independent schools, will attend over the two days.
Dr Mary Masson, Senior Teaching Fellow in the Chemistry Department at the University of Aberdeen, who has helped organise the visit and will assist participants, said: “As well as providing opportunities for pupils to carry out prescribed experiments in our laboratories, we have continued to run the Spectroscopy event after it proved a success when we provided it last year.
“The aim of these events is to assist with backup for an area of the Advanced Higher syllabus for which schools are not able to provide practical demonstrations, owing to the high cost of the instruments required.
“My postgraduate student helpers are looking forward to continue to help this year’s pupils with their Advanced Higher Chemistry studies.”
Seema Miah, Project Officer, said: “We are pleased at how all of the events have been consistently popular with schools throughout North-east Scotland.
“It is very encouraging that Chemistry teachers have asked their pupils to take part in the Spectroscopy Day, and we hope that they both find it a beneficial and worthwhile event.”