March 2006
Full issue available online.
Column
The Eurobachelor on track?
With just four years to go, how close are we to realising a 'common framework of readable and comparable degrees across Europe by 2010'.
Guess who's teaching chemistry?
A DfES report, published in January, has confirmed the RSC's suspicions that there are many secondary schools around the country without one appropriately qualified chemistry teach...
Chemistry in the new GCSEs
Approved GCSE Science specifications are now available and schools and colleges should be considering what to offer their students from September 2006.
Terror Bill reworked to protect chemists
In December the Government agreed to amend its Terrorism Bill to ensure that the counter-terrorism plans do not undermine the teaching of chemistry.
Undergraduates can teach
The Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme (UAS) is a national initiative which gives undergraduates the opportunity to get a taste for teaching in schools. So what's the UAS experience ...
RSC INSET for non-chemists
The Royal Society of Chemistry will be running the first event in its new series of INSET courses, Chemistry for non-chemists at the Science Learning Centre South West on 23-24 May...
Shaw Medal winner
In January Colin Baker, director of studies at Bedford School and Exhibition chemistry author, became the 10th scientist to be awarded the Shaw Medal.
RSC local sections - a valuable resource for teachers
The RSC's local section network provides a variety of initiatives aimed at schools and colleges throughout the UK and Ireland. For teachers, this could be a valuable resource to ta...
RSC launches prize for young science writers
Are your students talented science communicators? This year the RSC has launched a new science communication award, the RSC Bill Bryson prize, which is open to students aged 5-18. ...
Wise up to using science news in the classroom
Researchers in the school of education at Queen's University Belfast have produced Science newswise, a guidebook to using science-related newspaper reports in science teaching.
Inspiring materials from BOC
Inspiring gases, BOC's education programme run in partnership with the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), offers several useful resources on gases for A-level chemistry teachers and...
Nucleotide landmark honours Cambridge chemists
The department of chemistry at the University of Cambridge has been awarded a RSC National Chemical Landmark in recognition of its 50-year contribution to establishing the structur...
Nominations for NTFS 2006
The Higher Education Academy (HEA) is inviting HEIs to nominate up to three members of staff for the 2006 National Teaching Fellowships Scheme (NTFS).
Cash in on your experience
Publisher Lonsdale is looking for experienced, enthusiastic KS4 chemistry teachers to help write and compile revision guides for the new GCSE Science specifications from OCR and Ed...
Chemistry on Teachers' TV
In March Teachers' TV, the channel for teachers, will broadcast two new programmes on practical chemistry.
European chemical education conference
The Hungarian Chemical Society is inviting chemistry teachers and chemical education researchers to participate in the 8th European Conference on Research in Chemistry Education (E...
Soundbite molecules
Simon Cotton, teacher at Uppingham School, takes a look at those compounds that find themselves in the news or relate to our everyday lives. In this issue: Eat your greens.
Product review
In this column John Emsley looks at the chemistry behind familiar, everyday products . In this issue: Contact lenses.
Medicinal compounds
John Mann, Queen's University Belfast, takes a look at drugs on the market. In this issue: The best drug for breast cancer?
Chemistry trails
Peter Borrows brings us another excursion into local chemistry. In this issue: Any old iron?
Web watch
Wilson Flood, chemistry education consultant, takes a look at some websites of interest to chemistry teachers.
Letters
Letters
Education in Chemistry Letters, March 2006
Exhibition Chemistry
Making nylon
In this series, Colin Baker of Bedford School provides spectacular demonstrations, designed to capture the student's imagination.
Features
Percivall Pott, chimney sweeps and cancer
Over 200 years ago, doctor and writer Percivall Pott made the astute connection between soot and scrotal cancer, known then as the chimney sweep's cancer.
Acid mine drainage - a legacy of an industrial past
The environmental damage caused by acid mine drainage (AMD) is a worldwide and growing problem in those countries that once, or are still, extracting coal and/or metals. What is AM...
The carbon dioxide problem
Measuring carbon dioxide from plant debris provides an opportunity for an inquiry-based experiment aimed at 14-15 year olds. Similar experiments are done by soil scientists and eco...
Chemistry, medicine and genetic analysis
In the near future, doctors will be able to carry out a 'while you wait' test, using genetic analysis, for chlamydia, the silent disease that can lead to infertility in women. This...
Reviews
The poison paradox
John Timbrell
Meeting the standards in secondary science: a guide to the ITT NC
Lynn D. Newton (ed)
