International Year of the Periodic Table: Inspiration in India
On 20 June, 2019, the Royal Society of Chemistry’s India Deccan Local Section (IDLS) conducted a workshop for undergraduate students to celebrate the International Year of the Periodic Table, in association with St. Ann’s College for Women.
Prof. V Peesapati (an RSC-IDLS volunteer) explained the importance of conducting the workshop, celebrating 150 years since Dmitri Mendeleev first arranged all the known elements into groups, with the periodic table changing and morphing over this last century and a half to become the vital chemical concept we know today. Dr K Radhika, head of the Chemistry department at St Ann’s College, welcomed both RSC members and the 75 undergraduate students who participated in the event.
As an activity during the day, students displayed their own unique design of the periodic table, with different concepts and innovative ideas.
In the afternoon session, Prof. Peesapati conducted a quiz, carried out a crossword puzzle and hosted a bingo game, all of which were based on the periodic table. He gave away certificates to all, and prizes - including a periodic bag, pen and RSC periodic tables – were awarded for correct answers to winners.
One really important thing to note about the workshop is that the students, who were not only from the chemistry stream but also the Business Analysis, Bachelor of Commerce and Statistics disciplines, participated enthusiastically, displaying their interest by designing different models, as well as painting and colouring the periodic table on t-shirts, biscuits and along the open corridors (etc.) to explore the classification and discovery of each of the different elements.
Many students expressed their enjoyment of participating in the workshop, and were eager to know more about the modern periodic table and the uses of crucial elements in daily life.
Chemistry staff from St Ann’s college, some of whom are members of the RSC, helped in organising the event, which was also covered by a local English language newspaper.
