Patricia Johnson went to Uganda in 2006 to help improve science teaching at St Aloysius Girls Secondary School in Kitanga. Her trip was funded with the help of an RSC Educational Travel Grant.

Inspired by the quality of the pupils at the school, and the dedication of the head teacher, she is now raising funds to help them build a science lab.

Q How did you first get involved with the school?

A Various articles in RSC News during 2005 caught my imagination. I contacted Jean Johnson, a retired head teacher and chemist who was about to make a second visit to a seminary in Uganda. Her enthusiasm made me feel that I could make a significant contribution to the RSC's policy of encouraging the teaching of chemistry in the developing world.

Q What sort of work did you do when you went out?

A Lessons consisted mainly of dictated notes so I concentrated on introducing practical work. I had brought a small microscale kit, syringes, pipettes, temperature strips and plastic petri dishes to accompany the RSC Microscale Chemistry book. Structures and formulae were demonstrated with Chemical Jigsaws.

Year 10 and 11 girls were soon taught to carry out five experiments. At a seminar arranged by Jean they were able to confidently demonstrate these to a roomful of teachers, describing the theory and answering questions.

We bought food colouring, iron nails, baking soda and methylated spirits for experiments. Plastic bottles and food trays were made into improvised apparatus. The chemistry store was cleared of broken glassware, bottles were cleaned and clearly labelled and concentrated acids safely stored.

Although I taught each class my time was better spent in showing teachers how to put over concepts and do experiments which might come up in the 'O' level exam.

Q Why is improving science teaching so important?

A A home grown chemical industry is needed for manufacturing fertilisers and pesticides so that there is enough food for the increasing population, for tackling the health problems of HIV/AIDS and malaria and for providing clean water.

Massive infrastructure improvements are necessary if countries like Uganda are to progress. Scientifically literate personnel will be required and therefore a programme of science teaching is needed. Ultimately these countries should be fending for themselves if the aid programme is to work.

Q What benefits do you think improved facilities can bring?

A  2006 saw a marked improvement in the chemistry 'O' level results partly as a result of my visit. A laboratory will add greatly to the potential of the school, making it the only girls' school within this rural area to have such an amenity. 
At the seminary a classroom was converted into a laboratory, the teaching of chemistry has been established and local schools have benefited by being able to use the lab.