School of Chemistry Hosts Annual Salters’ Festival of Chemistry
Posted on: 04 June 2009
Sixty-four pupils from 16 schools donned lab coats in the School of Chemistry on Saturday May 23rd last to try their hands at forensic science as part of the 2009 Salters’ Festival of Chemistry run in partnership with the Royal Society of Chemistry. The 11-13 year olds worked in teams of four where they had to use their scientific skills in competitions to solve a crime and then try to construct a ‘chemical timer’.
The teams were given the task of solving a homicide called Murder at Saltmarsh Farm by identifying mystery salts present on each of the five suspects and on the victims clothing. Flame tests were carried out using Bunsen burners to identify the metal part of the salt and then reactions were tested in a test-tube to identify the non-metal part of the salt. The crime solving exercise was only one element of the day which featured hands-on experiments. In the afternoon the students took part in a second science competition, to make a chemical timer set for one minute, and were then treated to a series of colourful and noisy demonstrations by teacher John Daly from Blackrock College in a lecture entitled ‘Chemical Magic’.
Dr Michael Bridge, lecturer in TCD’s School of Chemistry said: “We are delighted to be involved, once again, with the annual Salters’ Festival of Chemistry. The event brings together students from very different backgrounds and shows them science can be interesting and fun. It also gives them a fantastic opportunity to experience first hand the workings of a university chemistry laboratory. I hope this experience encourages the children’s curiosity in chemistry and hopefully some of them will consider pursuing further studies with us when they finish school.”
The day’s events were concluded with a prize giving ceremony where all participants received prizes and certificates. The prizes were presented by Dr Siobhan Murphy of Pharmachemical Ireland, one of the sponsors of the day. Securing first place in the forensic competition were Our Lady’s School, Terenure, Dublin. Our Lady’s Grammar School, Newry, Co Down took second place and St Raphaela’s Secondary School, Blackrock, Dublin took third. The University Challenge to construct a chemical timer was won by Arklow Community College, Arklow, Co Wicklow. Second place went to Largy College, Clones, Co Monaghan and High School, Rathgar, Dublin won third place.
This year, students represented schools from Dublin, Monaghan, Down and Wicklow in the festival which has been hosted by Trinity College’s School of Chemistry for over 15 years. A Monaghan student who attended the event reported: “That was well worth getting up at 6.30am on a Saturday morning for!”
The Salters’ Festivals of Chemistry are one day events for schools held at universities throughout the UK and Ireland and are an initiative of The Salters’ Institute, which aims to promote the appreciation of chemistry and related sciences among young people. The festival at Trinity College Dublin, which is sponsored by the Salters’ Institute, Pharmachemical Ireland, and the Senior Lecturer’s office in TCD, is one of a series of 55 Festivals which are taking place at universities throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland between March and June 2009.