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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/R79579/01
Title: Light Years Ahead: Photochemistry enters the public arena
Principal Investigator: Harriman, Professor A
Other Investigators:
Jones, Professor S
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
BP Newcastle University Pfizer
Procter & Gamble Syngenta Thomas Swan
Department: School of Chemistry
Organisation: Newcastle University
Scheme: PPE PreFEC
Starts: 01 June 2002 Ends: 30 November 2003 Value (£): 20,338
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Environment Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
This project will utilise the tremendous advances made recently in photochemistry to illustrate how chemistry continues to enhance contemporary life. Topical examples include; self-cleaning houses, cheap and flexible solar cells, novel anti-cancer therapies, new dental preparations, environmentally-friendly synthetic routes, anti-pollution treatments, optical computers and mild household cleaners. The intention is to enthuse school children about the potential applications of modern chemistry in everyday life. We will focus on photochemistry since this subject is not well appreciated outside research circles and because it readily lends itself to the development of facile but impressive demonstrations. It is likely that photochemistry will be a major contributor to emerging solutions to many existing social and economic problems, ranging from energy conversion to noninvasive medical diagnosis to environmental cleansing. It is essential that the general public are made aware of this quiet scientific revolution that is taking place around us. In particular, we propose to give school children, and their science teachers, a glimpse of the future where photochemistry will provide unprecedented opportunities to improve the quality of life. The way in which chemists have turned evil (e.g. photodegradation) into good (e.g. photodynamic therapy), among many other examples, gives us the means by which to stimulate interest in science within the 14-18 year olds - as well as the general public.
Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Impacts
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Summary
Date Materialised
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.ncl.ac.uk