China, Beijing

The recently formed Beijing Local Section of the RSC arranged a visit to the State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering in Beijing University of Chemical Technology for local high school students in May 2008. 

In addition to a presentation about some of the research work being carried out in the laboratory from the Chair of the Section (Prof. David Evans), students were divided into small groups and given demonstrations of equipment whose principles they had previously studied at school (including infrared and NMR spectroscopy, GC-MS, powder X-ray diffraction and electrophoresis) as well as the synthesis of carbon nanotubes. 

The event was well received by staff and students. After the event Manyin Yang, the Deputy Principal of Beijing Luhe International Education Center, wrote to the Chair of the Section to express “our great appreciation of your support for our work”.

In October 2008, the Chair of the Section (Prof. David Evans) gave two presentations of a lecture demonstration entitled ‘Fascinating Chemistry’ in Shanghai, one to first year undergraduates (from chemistry and a variety of other disciplines) at East China Normal University and another at Shanghai Gezhi Middle School to students and teachers from the school and teachers from a number of other schools in Shanghai. 

The latter event was organized in conjunction with the Shanghai Society of Chemistry and Chemical Industry which recently signed an agreement to hold joint activities with the RSC.