Exploring Everyday Chemistry

Q&A with Exploring Everyday Chemistry

How did you first become interested in chemistry or science?
I was always naturally inquisitive to understand the world around me. A standout moment was when I was in GCSE Chemistry and I was taught by an inspirational teacher, Dr Beard. He was innovative in his teaching and had a great impact on many pupils. I will always remember his explanation of the forming of tectonic plates using the heating of milk to understand and explore such a big phenomenon. As well as this, he also encouraged us to write song lyrics about what we had learned in GCSE Chemistry to Katy Perry’s song track, which was cool at the time!

What were the biggest challenges when creating the online course?
Creating a course that satisfied learners with a range of chemical expertise, was particularly challenging. The course is aimed at pre-university chemistry students, but we also wanted novices to make progress and gain an understanding of the importance of everyday chemistry. Novices may not understand the fine details of the mechanism of action of a penicillin, but they can recognise why the chemical structures of these antibiotics all include a 4-membered ring.Andrew Parsons, Chemistry Professor, University of York, Exploring Everyday Chemistry creator

How do you see this work developing over the next few years?
We will continue to refresh and update the course content. We aim to convince more chemistry teachers to recommend the course to their students, to help them prepare for their chosen university course and spice up their personal statement. Also, our publicity has targeted a UK audience, but each year learners from up to 150 countries have enrolled on the course. We are keen to develop our publicity to grow the number of international learners.Andrew Parsons, Chemistry Professor, University of York, Exploring Everyday Chemistry creator

Who have the resources benefitted, and in what ways?
The resources have benefitted a range of learners, particularly pre-university students who can learn more about everyday chemistry, helping to bring their school chemistry syllabus to life. The course allows them to sample university teaching and research, carry out experiments in the kitchen, and share and discuss their results with other learners. The positive impact of the course has been evidenced by the personal statements from well over 100 UCAS applicants who have applied to York to study chemistry – these applicants have specifically mentioned the course in their personal statements, and they used the course content as evidence of their wider reading and preparation for making the transition to university.Katrina Sayer, Undergraduate Student and Experience Manager for Chemistry, University of York, Exploring Everyday Chemistry creator

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?
Chemistry is the central science and so interlinks with many other scientific disciplines, from archaeology, to environmental, materials, nanotechnology, and pharmaceutical science. Therefore, there are many career options that are open to a chemist. This includes working in jobs to tackle some of the planet’s most urgent challenges, from sustainable energy supplies to improving agricultural processes and tackling infectious diseases like coronavirus. Katrina Sayer, Undergraduate Student and Experience Manager for Chemistry, University of York, Exploring Everyday Chemistry creator

What inspires or motivates your team?
Our motivation for the course has been to showcase everyday applications of chemistry that bring the subject to life and get learners of all ages and backgrounds thinking more about the important role that chemistry plays in our lives. We wanted to engage novices and encourage them to learn more about the fundamentals of chemistry, and particularly excite prospective university applicants about the subject, including showing what a career in chemistry can lead on to. Crucially, we wanted a distinctive and engaging approach, that demonstrated our enthusiasm for the subject – if you have a passion for the subject, your learners are more likely to show a passion for learning.Katrina Sayer, Undergraduate Student and Experience Manager for Chemistry, University of York, Exploring Everyday Chemistry creator

What is the importance of making chemical sciences more accessible and/or engaging to both students and the public?
Increasing engagement and accessibility to chemical sciences inspires more people to become chemists which hopefully would result in ground-breaking discoveries such as new drugs, more sustainable ways to grow food and ways to cut global emissions and help save the planet. Such discoveries can make everyday life more efficient, impacting everyone for the better.Kat Ailles, undergraduate student, University of York, Exploring Everyday Chemistry course mentor

Why is chemistry important?
Chemistry is not just a part of everything it is everything. This course explores how chemistry is a key part of everyday life, and it helps learners develop an understanding of the molecules that make up everything we use, from materials to medicine, from coffee to cars. Kat Ailles, undergraduate student, University of York, Exploring Everyday Chemistry course mentor

What has been the most rewarding part of this project?
The most rewarding part of working on this free online course was answering all the learners’ questions and helping to increase their understanding of everyday chemistry. Abilities ranged from A-level right through to beginners, and it was really fulfilling to see them engage with the topics through weekly videos I made.Kat Ailles, undergraduate student, University of York, Exploring Everyday Chemistry course mentor