Scientists of the future

Fifty keen young scientists from all over the UK will arrive at the University of St Andrews this weekend to participate in a Scottish Executive funded residential Chemistry Camp.

The group of 15 year olds will join the Salters’ Chemistry Camp (8th – 12th June 2003), an action packed week of scientific events designed to allow the students to participate in a wide variety of chemical activities and to give them the opportunity to experience university life.

The Camp will enable the students to participate in the fun elements of chemistry and motivate them to develop both awareness of and a long-term interest in the subject and its applications in modern life.

Dr Nigel Botting of the University’s School of Chemistry said:

“The aim of the Salters’ Chemistry Camps is to give youngsters a chance to do some exciting Chemistry experiments that wouldn’t be possible at school and to get them enthusiastic about the subject. We want to encourage them to look at Chemistry as a possible career, so that they may become part of the next generation of young talented scientists that are essential in a “Smart, Successful Scotland.”

The camp is organised by the Salters’ Institute, which plays a major role in the support of chemistry teaching, the encouragement of young people to pursue careers in the UK chemical industries and the promotion of chemical education including the whole area of curriculum development.

In 1918 the Salters’ Company founded the Salters’ Institute of Industrial Chemistry, initially to assist young chemistry students returning from the war to complete their studies. The first two camps were held in 1998 at the Universities of Birmingham and York, and following their success, the scheme was expanded throughout the UK.

The Scottish Executive have sponsored the Chemistry Camp at St Andrews for the last two years and say that they are pleased that the camps are successful in encouraging young people to study science subjects to a higher level.

The camp at St Andrews kicks off the first of eight camps at UK Universities this year, and is the only one to be held in Scotland.

During their 5 days at St Andrews, students will be given an opportunity to tackle a variety of new activities. Their detective skills will be put to the test when they are called upon to use several different forensic techniques to help identify a criminal. They will investigate chemiluminescence or “Cold Light” and find out what makes fireflies glow.

They will explore the mysterious world of ‘Flavours and Fragrances’, turn copper into “gold” and discovering the science behind dyes and dyeing.

In addition, the students will be able to see chemistry ‘scaled up’ at a Site Visit to BP in Grangemouth.

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS:

A FULL PROGRAMME OF THE CAMP IS AVAILABLE – PLEASE CONTACT GAYLE COOK AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS OFFICE ¿ CONTACT DETAILS BELOW.

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER / PHOTOGRAPHER TO ANY OF THE PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES –

THESE ARE 9.30AM TO 12.30PM MONDAY; 9AM TO 12.30PM TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AND 1.30PM T0 5PM ON MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY – ALL IN THE PURDIE BUILDING (CONNELL LAB), NORTH HAUGH, ST ANDREWS.

PLEASE CONTACT GAYLE COOK IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND.

For more details on the Salters’ Chemistry Camp, please contact: The Camp Administrator at Salters’ Hall on tel: 020 7628 5962 or email: [email protected]

ENDS

Issued by Beattie Media On behalf of the University of St Andrews Contact Gayle Cook on 01334 467227, mobile 07900 050103, or email [email protected] Ref: Chem Camp pr 060503 View the latest University news at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk