Making the Chemical What?

What is this all about? Find out who we are and what we do here . We`ll even answer some of the most frequently asked questions

Colin, Lesley and Elizabeth Sebastian, Paul and Robin The Chemical Connection was an idea pioneered by Lesley Yellowlees, Colin Pulham and Elizabeth Stevenson - all staff members at The University of Edinburgh. They realised that there was a large demand for exciting, interactive Chemistry workshops and lectures around schools and other community groups. While it was relatively easy to persuade postgraduate students to pay visits around the local area (that is, around the University), trying to get these busy young people to spend time further away was proving difficult. Most of the country was missing out on a fantastic opportunity purely because there wasn`t a University nearby.

One grant application later and thanks to The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), their dream of taking Chemistry to areas remote from the University was made possible. The project has now been running on and off since 2002 and has visited schools from Shetland to Stockton on Tees!

In 2005, EPSRC were feeling particularly kind and gave the Chemical Connection enough money to run for three years. Paul Murray and Robin Andrews (ably navigated by Prof. Sebastian the Magnetic Monkey) were employed to do the developing, driving and delivering and the project is now running like an extremely well oiled machine.

You can invite the Chemical Connection to your school/community group/cultural establishment with one of our topics by contacting us. You can also suggest a topic we should cover or something new we should do - we`re always up for new suggestions. You can use the same method to ask us a question but check we haven`t answered it already....

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

I live in the other Perth - how far away are you prepared to go?

Officially our grant remit is to cover Scotland and the North of England so that`s what we tend to concentrate on. However, there`s no particular reason why we can`t occasionally go further - you can but ask. Contact us and we`ll see what we can work out.

I`m the Chairman of the North West Coast Welding Torch Collectors Association. Will you come and visit us?

Absolutely - we aim to bring Chemistry to anyone who wants to know about it. Just Contact us and we`ll set something up!

What do you do when you get here?

We deliver talks and/or workshops on any one of our topics. We also do occasional teacher training days and we`re always willing to hear suggestions on other things we should try.

What do I need to provide?

We aim to demand as little as possible from the people we visit. All we need is a room with tables, chairs and a projection screen if you want a lecture. We cover all tables with plastic sheets to protect them and we do our utmost to leave the room as we found it before we go.

What will you talk about?

We have a number of topics prepared which we can do talks/workshops on. However, if you have a wild idea for a new topic or some other great suggestion for an activity we`re willing to hear it! Contact us to start the meeting of minds.

This all sounds great but I`ll never be able to afford you.

OH YES YOU CAN! Our grant covers all our accommodation, travel, materials etc. etc. The cost to you is absolutely nothing, zippo, the inside of a ring doughnut. The only thing we will demand that you do is help us evaluate our visit. We usually have a very short questionnaire (A5 - about three questions!) which we need all the participants to fill in 2 weeks before we visit. We then have another similarly short questionnaire to do two weeks after. It is really important that we do this so it is the only thing we will demand and chase you for.

I want a Chemical Connection visit. When can you come?

All you need to do Contact us, so why not do it now?

Produced by Chemical Connection Webmaster
School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, Scotland EH9 3JJ
Tel : +44 (0)131 651 3310 , Fax : +44 (0)131 650 6453
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