Report on the Analytical Division’s 2009 National Schools’ Analyst Competition
The 2009 final was held on the 29/30 June at the University of Plymouth. The event was won by Ruthin School from North Wales (part of the North West Region), with Abingdon School coming second and Colchester County High School third. For the first time in a number of years a State funded school obtained one of the top three places (3rd on this occasion).
This year, more teams than ever competed in the final, with 18 teams (3 in each team) of year 12 students, competing for the Shield, together with individual and school prizes. It was pleasing to note that 12 of the competing teams came from state sector schools.
The practical competition was devised by Dr Hywel Evans who welcomed the competitors and their accompanying teachers to Plymouth and then introduced the practical schedule to the competitors on the evening of the 29th June. The competition scenario was based upon the analysis of atomic and molecular components of natural waters. The first experiment was the measurement of calcium and magnesium in drinking water followed by the colorimetric determination of orthophosphate in river water.
The photograph shows the winning team with the competition shield. From left to right: Prof. Paul Worsfold, Alicia Chau, Saakar Byahut, Chuwei Zhang and the Head of Ruthin Senior |
All teams were able to complete the practical work in the session before lunch and were then taken to a computer laboratory where they were given tasks to interpret their results and classify the types of water they had analysed, using data available on the internet. The teams were assessed on their competence in the laboratory, safety and housekeeping, in addition to their results and conclusions. The assessors for the event were Mr Frank Sweeting (Western Region/AD), Dr Martin Kerrigan (AstraZenaca) and Dr Carol Llewellyn (Plymouth Marine Laboratory). The assessment panel was chaired by Brian Woodget (Coordinator for the National Schools’ Analyst competition) and the prizes were awarded by Professor Paul Worsfold (University of Plymouth), a Past-President of the AD.
The 2008 competition was sponsored mainly by the Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund. Additional sponsorship was received from the RSC (The Western Region/AD, the Western Region of the Educational Division, the Chromatography & Electrophoresis Group and the Atomic Spectroscopy Group), LGC and ThermoFisher Scientific. Many other companies are to be thanked for sponsoring the heats, which enabled teams to reach the final. Prizes for the first three teams were £750, £500 and £250 respectively. All other teams received £100. The individual team members for the first three teams all received book tokens.
The Analytical Division expresses its thanks to University of Plymouth, for the way it managed the competition whilst on site. The enthusiasm shown by the whole of the Faculty of Science helped to enhance the University experience for all of the competitors.
The final in 2010 will be held at the University of Huddersfield on 22nd and 23rd June.
Brian Woodget
Coordinator for the National Schools’ Analyst Competition
