Mr Robert Worley FRSC

Winner: 2021 Excellence in Secondary and Further Education Prize

CLEAPSS

For significant and sustained contributions to the development and promotion of safe practical resources for teachers worldwide, especially in the field of microscale chemistry.

Celebrate Mr Robert Worley FRSC

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As the Chemistry advisor at CLEAPSS Bob has written many documents, available to all teachers in the UK, which translate Safety Data Sheets and Recipe Sheets for making solutions. He has answered thousands of queries from teachers and technicians on safety, storage and waste, and performed hundreds of workshops around the country. He has been influential in the field of microscale chemistry – miniaturising experiments.

Bob Worley is the (semi-retired) chemistry advisor for CLEAPSS in the UK. He studied chemistry at the University of Sheffield before teaching students for 20 years at Uppingham and Norwich School where he was Head of Department.

In 1991, he joined CLEAPSS as the Chemistry advisor where has written many documents for CLEAPSS which are available to all teachers in the UK. These include Hazcards which translate Safety Data Sheets for school technicians and teachers and Recipe Sheets for making solutions. He has answered thousands of queries from teachers and technicians on safety, storage and waste, and investigated the cause of many serious incidents in school laboratories. He has performed hundreds of workshops around the country and appeared on Teachers TV and ManLab. He has made full scale demonstrations safer and yet still impressive.

In carrying out these duties, Bob also gained an interest in miniaturising experiments. To be accepted over the traditional approach, this style of chemistry has to offer more “teaching value”. This means delving deeper into how reactions work, making lessons more time-efficient, being aware of environmental and sustainability issues and not over-loading the short-term working memory of students.

Bob is a singer in the Ealing Choral Society, sung opera, taking solo roles and plays bowls for the Brentham Club.

Once copper was isolated, the world developed. The colours, the compounds, the complexes, the redox reactions, the catalytic behaviours. It is all there.

Q+A

How did you first become interested in chemistry or science?

I walked into the chemistry lab at school in 1957 and saw copper sulfate solution. Then I read Isaac Asimov’s book, “Building Blocks of the Universe.”

What has been a challenge for you (either personally or in your career)?

Convincing teachers scared of employing improvisation and creativity in their own experiments, that these techniques provide better teaching management and more useful chemical information than the standard methods that have been around for over 100 years.

What is your favourite element?

Copper; once copper was isolated, the world developed. The colours, the compounds, the complexes, the redox reactions, the catalytic behaviours. It is all there.