School of Chemistry

Schools Analyst

Royal Society of Chemistry, "Schools Analyst Competition 2010"

Each Spring, Bangor hosts a Regional Heat of the Royal Society of Chemistry "Schools Analyst Competition". The competition is open to sixth form students who are taking an AS level in Chemistry and teams are made up of three students who take part in a problem solving experiment in one of our Teaching Laboratories.

Prizes are awarded to the top three teams and the winning team then represents the Region in the finals.

Young Chemists find the measure of beer!

Teams of young Chemists from schools in north and mid Wales and the borders played the role of forensic chemists in checking the alcohol content of beer samples as they competed in the regional final of the Royal Society of Chemistry Schools Analyst Competition at Bangor University recently.

Ysgol Brynrefail with their trpphy In the competition scenario and challenge set the 'A' Level Chemistry students, they had to work to professional standards and produce high quality data that could be used in a courtroom in testing the strength of beers seized by trading standards officers. They had to measure the content of ethanol of the suspect samples that were illegally imported.

Providing a 'real-life scenario' for the competition illustrated one of the many roles the chemist plays in the modern world. The teams were assessed on skill, understanding and accuracy, as well as teamwork and safety in the lab.

The Rydal-Penrhos team The winning team came from Ysgol Brynrefail, Llanrug, Caernarfon who will be joining other UK schools for the finals which are to be held in Huddersfield in June of this year.

Second place was given to Rydal Penrhos School, Colwyn Bay and Third Place went to Howells School, Denbigh.

Bangor University's School of Chemistry staff, who were involved in the event, were very impressed by the enthusiasm and high standard of the competitors. The event was thoroughly enjoyed by staff and student alike.

Good luck in Huddersfield Ysgol Brynrefail!

Pictured right are Elena Owen, Dyfan Coles and Bethan Roberts from Ysgol Brynrefail with the Head of Chemistry at Bangor University, Dr Mike Beckett(Left) and their Teacher Ms S Roberts (centre).

For further details please contact Dr Keith Hughes – Schools Liaison Officer.

e-mail:- keith.hughes@bangor.ac.uk

salters event

school visits

school lectures