May 2009
Vol 46, No 3. Selected articles and reviews available online to all. Full issue available online to subscribers.
Column
Low score for Science Diploma
Government delays launch of level three Science Diploma in response to concerns raised by SCORE, the body representing science education professional bodies
Bootham boys are top of the bench
A team of students from Bootham School, York, win the 2009 Top of the Bench national final
Bright future in UK science
At the RSC's Voice of the future event in March, Lord Drayson reassures young scientists and engineers that the UK is the place to be
New award for STEM leaders at Key Stage 4
New qualification offers students the route to an additional BTEC award in recognition of the personal leadership skills they develop through learning science
Collaborative research grows
Pharma industry joins forces with funding council to provide 12 new PhD studentships in UK university chemistry departments
In brief
Items: Various short items
Soundbite molecules - bisphenol A (BPA)
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: bisphenol A (BPA)
Chemlingo
Peter Childs, University of Limerick, investigates words in chemistry. In this issue: all that corrodes is not just iron
Web watch
Tony Tooth, teacher at The King's School in Ely, looks at some websites that may be of interest to chemistry teachers. In this issue: to pay or not to pay for online resources
Letters
Exhibition Chemistry
Platinum-catalysed oxidation of ammonia
Demonstrations to capture the student's imagination, by Adrian Guy of Blundell's School. In this issue: platinum-catalysed oxidation of ammonia
The Elements
Features
Biofuels: the next generation
Chemists look to develop second-generation biofuels made from dead wood, algae and genetically-engineered microorganisms
Burning ice in the Arctic
Is methane trapped in ice, deep in the Arctic ocean, a potential clean energy source for the future, or will its release lead to catastrophic climate change?
The public analyst
Analytical chemists ensure everything, from food and drinks, through toys and household chemicals, to air quality and even suspicious powders present no danger to humans
Epilepsy - beyond bromide
An historical journey into the treatment of epilepsy, starting with potassium bromide 150 years ago
Maths for Chemists
Logarithms
Tips for teaching maths skills to our future chemists, by Paul Yates of Keele University. In this issue: Logarithms
Distillates
What type of teacher are you?
Researchers investigate the types of questions used by science teachers who are influenced by a constructive approach to teaching and those who are not
Student response technology
US researchers ask students their views on the benefits of using interactive quiz technology in lectures
The effectiveness of practical work
Research reveals little evidence of lasting effects of practical tasks on students' understanding of concepts
Reviews
Endpoint
Infochem
