| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/C525469/1 |
| Title: |
Strengthening the Chemical Connection |
| Principal Investigator: |
Pulham, Professor C |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Sch of Chemistry |
| Organisation: |
University of Edinburgh |
| Scheme: |
PPE PreFEC |
| Starts: |
15 August 2005 |
Ends: |
14 August 2008 |
Value (£): |
192,958
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Chemical Synthetic Methodology |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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This project seeks to deliver an extensive programme of chemistry demonstration lectures and 'hands-on' workshops to schools and communities in Scotland and Northern England. These activities will explain, using readily accessible language and ideas, some of the fundamental chemical concepts to the public and will communicate the challenge and excitement of research work by highlighting aspects of chemical research currently taking place at Edinburgh. Whilst emphasising the very positive role that Chemistry plays in today's society we will also encourage debate about ethical issues of chemical research. These activities will build on succesful programmes that we have delivered in the past. In addition we will develop followup workshops that can be used to maintain interest and enthusiasm of participants and we will also develop and organise competitions and quizzes. We will provide Continuing Professional Development training to chemistry teachers.We propose to develop new themes for these lecturesMrorkshops, with an emphasis on issues that are of current concern to the public or which are seen as controversial. Topics will therefore include: Quality of life - an area that includes personal health and the environment; Lifestyles - e.g. fashion, cosmetics, diet; Energy - e.g. fossil fuels, global warming, nuclear power, wind- and wave-power; and Nanotechnology . Support material for each topic will be mounted on a web page to enable participants to remind themselves of the visits and to find out more about the science and research being undertaken at Edinburgh.We intend to focus on sectors of the public who may not be familiar with scientific methodolgies,(e.g. older people, women's groups) and on schools and communities in remote areas that do not have opportunities to visit science festivals and science museums. We will also focus on sectors of the school-age population that have very low career expectations. Our aim is to enthuse, excite, and engage with these audiences.We will use a combination of pre- and post-visit questionnaires and focus groups to assess the impact of our activities with particular emphasis on how these activities change participants' perceptions of chemistry and chemists. We will also investigate how these activities influence pupils' decisions on whether to study chemistry further. We will explore how involvement of staff and postgraduate students in the School of Chemistry changes their perceptions of public awareness activities.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.ed.ac.uk |