Chemistry on the Isle of Wight

Beth Anderson, education coordinator for south-west England, organised an event for teachers on the Isle of Wight, through the Learn Chemistry Partnership.

Dr Mark Howson has been running the popular Contemporary Chemistry Evenings for many years, and we wanted to bring this experience to teachers on the island.

The event took place at Christ the King College, with excellent support from teacher Dr Beth Foreman. The day went really well and we had excellent attendance despite the snowy weather!

The event included two practical sessions by Dr Mark Howson from the mid-southern counties local section. He arrived with two colleagues and lots of practical activities for the teachers. The activities included making hydrogen gas rockets out of pipettes – a great example of microscale chemistry.

There was a session by Professor David Read on new ways to help students balance chemical equations. He also demonstrated various ways to help students visualise a mole, using little vials of one mole of vaious elements, such as carbon.

The course was enthusiastically received – one teacher called it "Superb in every respect"! Huge thanks to the school and local section volunteers.