Chemical reaction for Scottish school pupils

Nearly 200 Scottish school pupils will learn the importance of chemistry to everyday life at the University of St Andrews next week.

The Scottish Schools Week aims to promote chemistry as an exciting and challenging career and give an insight into studying the subject at St Andrews, where Chemistry was rated 5 in the latest Research Assessment Exercise, one of only two in Scotland to achieve such a rating. Including lab exercises and tours of facilities, the events will also highlight the importance of chemistry to the workplace and national economy.

The events will run in the University’s Purdie Building for three days – 9, 10 and 12 September 2002 – and will be attended by pupils from throughout Fife, Tayside, Perthshire and the Edinburgh area.

On 9 September, 65 students will attend from throughout Fife – Bell Baxter High, Buckhaven High, Kirkcaldy High and Kirkland High.

On 10 September, 86 pupils will attend from throughout Perthshire and Tayside – namely, Auctherarder High, Brechin High, Kinross High, Monifieth High, Perth Academy and Perth Grammar.

Finally, on 12 September, 34 students will attend from Edinburgh and East Lothian – Ross High, St Augustines and Tynecastle High.

Professor Russell E Morris, Royal Society Research Fellow in the School of Chemistry said, “The image of chemists stuck in the lab in white coats is fading fast with chemistry playing a key role in our lives. A vibrant and exciting subject, chemistry underpins almost everything around us – from the foods we eat to the fuels which power our cars to the medicines which keep us healthy. Furthermore, the career opportunities involving chemistry are vast and varied with industries requiring large numbers of chemists in research, development, sales, marketing and management.”

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS – You are invited to send a photographer/reporter to the event on either 9, 10 or 12 September in the School of Chemistry, Purdie Building, North Haugh, St Andrews at 10.30am. Please report to Professor Russell Morris or Dr David Richens.

Issued by Beattie Media on behalf of the University of St Andrews For more information please contact: Claire Grainger on 01334 462530, 07730 415 015 or email cg24@st- andrews.ac.uk View University press releases on- line at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk Ref: chemistryday- 2002/standrews/chg/4sep2002