Educational Support Group

We welcome suggestions and applications for any outreach initiative aimed at school students. 

Several years ago the BMCS initiated activities to support the promotion of the chemical sciences in schools. These include:

• Support for University outreach activities across the UK, which are complementary to initiatives funded from existing sources. The funding provided has been used, for example, for spectroscopy workshops for years 12-13, chemistry experiment days for years 8-10, chemistry camps, primary school demonstrations and chemistry teacher workshops. In 2004 £3000 was provided to fund activities at four Universities.  For example, Dr Tim Smith of Warwick University runs a series of high impact chemistry related demonstrations for primary school children. 
  
  
  
  
  
• Funding of enhanced equipment or materials to schools, to help promote the chemical sciences and its understanding at all levels within schools. Small support grants, typically £50-£500, have been provided to fund a range of activities from after school science clubs and touring demonstrations to primary schools, to pyrotechnics chemistry lectures as well as the purchase of model kits, computer software, or specialist equipment shared between several schools. In 2004 £3030 was allocated to these activities.
  
• In 2005 we extended our support for chemistry outreach activities at the local section level, seeking requests for funding for local section chemistry events, such as chemistry talks or career events to school children.
  
• Production of a CD, distributed free to schools on request entitled Exploring Chemistry: The World of Molecules, containing several presentations ranging from ‘Why Chemistry ?’ to ‘Discovering New Medicines’ and ‘Green Chemistry’. Any of this material can be used by school teachers as a teaching aid.   

These support activities are coordinated by the Educational Support Group (ESG) of the BMCS, and applications for funding under the schemes outlined above are considered throughout the year. These should be sent to Dr Helen C Hailes by Email.