Pupils learn about 'cool chemistry'

President of the RSC visits Exeter School

  

Exeter School has welcomed a very distinguished guest, Professor David Phillips, the President of the Royal Society of Chemistry, who gave two talks and a specialist careers advice session to senior pupils. Year 9 and 10 pupils enjoyed exciting demonstrations of chemical bonding and reactions using light sources, liquid nitrogen and solid carbon dioxide, and some were lucky enough to assist Professor Phillips as he illustrated his 'cool chemistry'.

The Year 12 pupils had a preview of the lecture that was to be presented at the Royal Institution later that week entitled Prosperity through Chemistry.

This showed how Chemistry was the central key enabling science essential requirement for: Agricultural productivity Conservation of scarce natural resources Conversion of biomass feedstocks Diagnostics for human health leading on to drugs & therapies Drinking water quality Energy conversion and storage Sustainable product design

Year 13 Pupils were given the opportunity to have small group seminars on where Chemistry may take them in the future. After school, Professor Phillips gave a lecture to a packed audience in the Andrews Hall entitled A Little Light Relief, which examined the use of light sources in medical treatments.

Professor Phillips ended the evening with the presentation of a certificate to Manoj Chitnavis, a Chemistry teacher at Exeter School, who has been awarded a prestigious Fellowship of the Royal Society of Chemistry for his contribution to Chemistry and Science education.