The fascinating and exciting world of chemical science will come under the spotlight at the biennial national Chemistry Week in Aberdeen next week, with an exciting programme of events, lectures and a screening of the film Erin Brockovich.
The University of Aberdeen, the Robert Gordon University and the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute have joined forces to make this year’s theme, Chemistry in Our Community, as interesting and as widely available to the North and North-east public as possible.
Chemistry Week is a national event organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry. This year, the specific aim is to highlight chemical science’s contribution to the world around us in an effort to improve public understanding and government recognition of the important role that chemical science has in our lives.
The fun and learning starts on Saturday, November 17, with an activity day at Satrosphere called Experiment! for all to get hands-on experience of chemistry at eight interactive workstations. There will also be a chemistry show at various times during the day.
On Monday, November 19, there will be a showing of the Julia Roberts film Erin Brockovich, at The Belmont. The story of Erin Brockovich is that of an underdog taking on a major corporation responsible for contaminating the water supply in a community and causing illness in hundreds of people. The result is the largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit in the US - over US$ 300M!
It will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Robin Harper MSP, Ed Paterson of the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and Dr Graeme Paton, of the University’s Department of Plant and Soil Science.
Other events will include a fascinating demonstration lecture by Grampian Fire Brigade on the power of fire and how it can be controlled; an insight into the techniques used by forensic scientists in the pursuit of criminals; and a chance to see how the analytical sleuths at the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute work to detect even the tiniest traces of contaminants in the environment.
The programme has been organised by the Aberdeen and North of Scotland Section of the Royal Society of Chemistry, with the support of the University of Aberdeen, the Robert Gordon University, the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Satrosphere and the Belmont, Aberdeen. A full programme of events can be found on the website at www.abdn.ac.uk/~che395/chemweek2001.htm
One of the organisers of this year’s events, Dr Marcel Jaspars, a senior lecturer at the University of Aberdeen’s Department of Chemistry, said:
“Chemistry plays a pivotal role in the world around us today. Many of the contributions made by chemistry to our everyday lives are hidden, but nevertheless have hugely improved our quality of life. Chemistry provides more solutions to problems than it creates.
“The film Erin Brockovich raises issues of contamination of land and water supplies. It provides a platform for discussion on these issues. Our panel are experts at the assessment and remediation of this type of problem.”
Further information on any of these events is available from Dr Marcel Jaspars in the Department of Chemistry. He can be contacted by phone on: (01224) 272895, or email on: m.jaspars@abdn.ac.uk
Issued by Public Relations Office, External Relations, University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen. Tel: 01224 272014 Fax: 01224 272086
University Press Office on telephone +44 (0)1224-273778 or email a.ramsay@admin.abdn.ac.uk.