ALL THE EVENTS ARE FREE OF CHARGE. e-mail: simpsonwmctc@gmail.com Please download the Sixth Form Ticket Application Form here. |
| Date | Title | |
Tuesday 25 September 2018| AUTUMN MEETING FOR TEACHERS OF CHEMISTRY. | CHEESE AND WINE (and soft drinks) (Teachers CPD meeting) (Includes WMCTC Annual Business Meeting) Details | |
| Tuesday 2 October 2018 | THE FIRST WORLD WAR: ITS CHEMICAL ORIGINS (Sixth Form) | Details |
| Tuesday 16 October 2018 | URANIUM - THE BOGEYMAN OF THE PERIODIC TABLE: A CASE OF DR JEKYLL OR MR HYDE (Sixth Form) | Details |
| Tuesday 6 November 2018 | THE CLIMATE ARGUMENT:
ARE WE DOOMED AND DO WE PANIC , OR WHAT CAN WE DO? (Sixth Form) PowerPoint Presentation click here Video Presentation click here. |
Details |
| Tuesday 13 November 2018 | CAREERS IN CHEMISTRY: RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN INDUSTRY AND ACADEMIA (Sixth Form Symposium) | Details |
| Tuesday 20 November 2018 | SATURDAY NIGHT SCIENCE
(Sixth Form) | Details |
| Wednesday 28 November 2018 | A VOLATILE HISTORY OF CHEMISTRY
Lecture Demonstration (University of Wolverhampton) (Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 students) | Details |
| 30 November 2018 | WMCTC CHEMISTRY QUIZ: THE FINALS
(Year 10 and Year 11) Last date for applications (changed from 31 October) | Details |
| Tuesday 4 December 2018 | CHEMICAL MAGIC (Sixth Form) | Details |
| Tuesday 15 January 2019 | NANOCHEMISTRY (Sixth Form) | Details |
| Tuesday 29 January 2019 | ASTROCHEMISTRY - THE CHEMICAL COSMOS (Sixth Form) | Details |
| Tuesday 5 February 2019 | Stretching and challenging students when teaching Spectroscopy (Teachers CPD Meeting) | Details |
| Tuesday 26 February 2019 | THE VICTORIAN PHARMACY (Sixth Form) | Details |
| Tuesday 5 March 2019 | WMCTC CHEMISTRY QUIZ: THE FINALS (Year 10 and Year 11) Please apply by 30 November 2018 | Details |
| Tuesday 12 March 2019 | ADVANCED LEVEL REVISION 1 NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY (Sixth form) | Details |
| Wednesday 13 March 2019 | CHEMISTRY AND ENERGY: FROM STEAM TO NUCLEAR POWER Lecture Demonstration (Aston University) (Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 students) Postponed |
Details |
| Tuesday 26 March 2019 | ADVANCED LEVEL REVISION 2 DNA, PROTEINS & AMINO ACIDS (Sixth Form) | Details |
| Wednesday 3 July 2019 | MAGIC MOLECULES: THE MAGIC OF OXYGEN Lecture Demonstration (Aston University) (Year 9 and Year 10 students) | Details |
| September 2019 to July 2020 | PROGRAMME FOR SEPTEMBER 2019 TO JULY 2020 | Details
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Venue: King Edward VI High School for Girls (B15 2UB) AUTUMN MEETING FOR ALL TEACHERS OF CHEMISTRY CHEESE AND WINE (and Soft Drinks) "SOME RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS OF CHEMISTRY AT THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL/COLLEGE YEAR"
*University of Birmingham School of Chemistry Outreach Programme *Internet Resources *Chemistry Competitions and Quizzes And there will be some free resources to take away. As usual, the evening will be a marvellous networking opportunity in a relaxed environment, with light refreshments being served. Meet new colleagues or renew old contacts. Why not invite your colleagues to this evening? Perhaps you would like to make a positive contribution to the continuing development of Chemical Education in the Midlands Region? If so, you may wish to join the WMCTC Committee as one of our teacher representatives. NQT or experienced teacher - your input will be very welcome and much appreciated. Please let us know. The WMCTC Annual Business Meeting takes place during the evening and the agenda includes the election of teacher representatives to serve on the Committee - an excellent CPD opportunity. A Certificate of Attendance will be available for your Portfolio There is no Registration Fee If you would like to come to this Meeting, please email the Chair (Jill Oldfield: jo@kehsmail.co.uk ) as soon as possible giving your name, school/college address, telephone number and preferred email address. |
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Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 "THE FIRST WORLD WAR: ITS CHEMICAL ORIGINS"  Although poison gases were first employed in the 1914-1918 War, the consequent fatalities were relatively few compared to the millions who perished through the application of high explosives and synthetic propellants. The 19th Century chemistry which underpinned the industrial production of these materials, particularly in Germany, will be the main feature of this talk. Large scale manufacturing organic chemistry really started with synthetic dyestuffs industry, and the lecture will include at least one demonstration of early dyeing. This talk is particularly topical as we approach the 100th anniversary of the end of that War with the signing of the Armistice on 11 November 1918. After graduating, our speaker (Alan Dronsfield) studied for a PhD in organo-phosphorus chemistry at the University of Manchester. His main professional interest was in the organic chemistry of cobalt, particularly those substances which are simpler analogues of vitamin B12. However, he admits to being little known for his 30 years of researches here, but is very well-known for his interest in the history of science and medicine, and has produced over 100 papers, mainly concentrating on the areas where chemistry and medicine come together. These include the history of anæsthesia and the history of drugs, both legal and illegal. His present research project is the development of muscle relaxant drugs during the period 1920-1950, used to prepare patients for surgical operations. Until recently he was Chairman of the Royal Society of Chemistry Historical Group based at Burlington House in London. Professor Alan Dronsfield, University of Derby. Sixth Form Lecture. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed TOP of PAGE |
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Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 "URANIUM: THE BOGEYMAN OF THE PERIODIC TABLE: A CASE OF DR JEKYLL OR MR HYDE"  Nuclear. What an emotive word. For or against, we already have legacy issues from nuclear power and weapons and there'll be more in the future. Most nuclear applications use uranium, so we will attempt to unpick this complex area and present some facts about uranium and the science that is done with it. Steve is interested in developing the chemistry of main group and lanthanide and actinide complexes which challenge preconceived ideas about structure, bonding and reactivity. Professor Stephen T. Liddle, University of Manchester. Sixth Form Lecture. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed TOP of PAGE |
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Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 "THE CLIMATE ARGUMENT: ARE WE DOOMED AND DO WE PANIC, OR WHAT CAN WE DO?"  No spin or soundbites here - it's time to get to grips with the greenhouse effect, global warming, ozone depletion and climate change, and discover how such environmental issues influence United Kingdom and International Policy. Perhaps all may not be a simple as it seems. You will be made aware of the problems that face the planet. Rest assured, we are in good hands, our politicians are scientifically literate . Richard Tuckett has just retired as Professor of Chemical Physics at the University of Birmingham, he now holds an Emeritus position. His research area is high resolution gas-phase spectroscopy and reaction dynamics, especially of molecular cations created by tunable vacuum-UV radiation from a synchrotron. Recent studies have centred on long-lived greenhouse gases, leading to a subsiduary interest in atmospheric chemistry, climate change and energy consumption. He has talked extensively on this subject throughout the UK. His views might seem controversial to some, others have said they are plain common-sense. You choose! Professor Richard Tuckett, School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham. Sixth Form Lecture. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed TOP of PAGE |
Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 "CAREERS IN CHEMISTRY: RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN INDUSTRY AND ACADEMIA" 
For this reason, we have arranged an exciting programme where Chemists from industry and academia will talk to Sixth Formers about some of the real-life challenges that chemists are working on and what their careers have been like in practice. The aim of this symposium is to demystify career pathways and explore exciting research opportunities in the field of chemistry - what are the big challenges? Does it involve new compounds, methods or techniques? What is the potential to make a real impact on peoples' lives? This event features leading chemists from Astra Zeneca, Johnson Matthey and the University of Birmingham. The speakers will aim to inspire students and give them a feel for what a career using chemistry might look like. As well as their presentations, the panel of speakers will be happy to take questions from the audience, as well as from individuals afterwards. If you wish to find the answers to any of the above, please join us at the School of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham for this exciting meeting. This symposium is sponsored by the alumni of the University of Birmingham. Highlights of exciting research in inorganic, physical and analytical chemistry will be presented. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed. TOP of PAGE |
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Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 "SATURDAY NIGHT SCIENCE" (The definitive scientific guide to a night out on the town)   * Can reaction dynamics explain that boy meets girl moment?*
Can studying spectroscopy turn you into a Disco Diva on the dance floor?* Can Chemistry help you Pull?* Come along to this scientific guide to a night out on the town and find out where you have been going wrong.A hands-on activity if you strike lucky. Suitable for audiences aged 16 and over. The show has played at numerous venues throughout the UK and Ireland including Oxford Pitt Rivers Museum, the Cheltenham Science Festival, the Dublin BA Science Festival and the Norwich Playhouse, and is a regular at the Chemistry in Action Sixth Form Days at the Institute of Education in London. Our speaker (Dr Graeme Jones) graduated in Chemistry from the University of Liverpool and then went on to study for a PhD with Professor Ian Fleming FRS at the University of Cambridge. He spent two and a half years as a Western European Fellow of the Royal Society at the University of Lausanne working with Professor Pierre Vogel. He is an award winning Chemical Ecologist who has a passion for public science. In 2002 he led the team that built the Guinness World Record making model of DNA in Stoke-on-Trent. Molecular Mardi Gras 2005 was a street level Science Carnival using the largest molecular models in the world. Molecules Matter in 2006 was an exhibition of molecular sculptures in the glasshouse range at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, interpreting the plants through the molecules they make. In 2005 he was awarded a NESTA Dreamtime Fellowship to develop his talents as a science entertainer. In 2009, he was the first scientist to install an exhibition, Carbon Rapture, in the courtyard of Burlington House, the home of the Royal Academy. His ambition is to create a vibrant science culture accessible to all. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed TOP of PAGE |
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Year 7, Year 8 & Year 9 Lecture Demonstration Venue: Chancellors Hall, University of Wolverhampton "A VOLATILE HISTORY OF CHEMISTRY" Exciting Chemistry to delight and fascinate the young audience  Presented by Professor Craig Williams, Dr Martin Khechara, David Luckhurst, David Townrow and assisted by Ms Zoe Mason (University of Wolverhampton). This interactive lecture demonstration will take the students on a journey through time to explore the discoveries of some of history's most famous chemists. Through comedy, intellectual discussion, exciting, mind boggling and sometimes downright frightening demonstrations, the presenters will show the audience how many of the fundamental laws of chemistry work and influence our everyday lives. The event is FREE but TICKETS are needed. Interested teachers should apply for tickets as soon as possible using this link Any enquiries about this event please contact STEMOutreach@wlv.ac.uk or Zoe Mason zoe.mason@wlv.ac.uk . TOP of PAGE |
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Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 “CHEMICAL MAGIC”  
By popular request, their majestic maestros masterfully maximise mysteriously many moving memorable magical momentous magnificant masquerades metaphorically. Once more, the dynamic duo will cast their spells. See the magic for yourselves - be entertained and inspired. Dr Ray Plevey & Mrs Rosemary Plevey, School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham. Sixth Form Lecture Demonstration. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed TOP of PAGE |
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THE P F FRANKLAND MEMORIAL LECTURE Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 "NANOTECHNOLOGY"  Nanotechnology is the science of the infinitely small and is likely to be increasingly important in the future as it allows materials to be built up atom by atom. The technology is leading to significant developments in medicine, manufacturing and computing. Professor Jon Preece, School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham. Sixth Form Lecture Demonstration. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed TOP of PAGE |
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Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 ASTROCHEMISTRY - THE CHEMICAL COSMOS 
Astronomers use basically the same tools as chemical spectroscopists to look at stars linking spectrographs to their telescopes to measure the spectra of distant objects. Some objects, such as our Sun, produce relatively simple spectra showing the range of atoms present in the star. Other objects, such as low mass stars and "failed stars" or brown dwarfs, are so cool that their spectra is full of molecular fingerprints. However, in fact the spectra of all objects, as they grow older, become richer. We see evidence for the formation of molecules in the cooler parts of the stellar envelope. These molecules can be released from the stars into the interstellar medium only to be reduced to their constituent atoms by the harsh radiation environment to be found there. So, let us take a look at how astrochemists explore a chemically controlled cosmos using the tools of a chemist and an astronomer. Dr June McCombie, School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham. Sixth Form Lecture. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed TOP of PAGE |
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Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 "STRETCHING AND CHALLENGING STUDENTS WHEN TEACHING SPECTROSCOPY"  Coordinated by Dr Mark Read, School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham. Meet in the Foyer of Haworth Building. Tea and Coffee will be served from 6.45pm. Infra Red Spectroscopy features in the A-Level syllabus with students required to have an understanding and appreciation of the underlying theory in addition to the ability to identify key functional groups from IR absorption spectra. Coupled with other analytical data from Mass Spectrometry and the molecular formula, compounds and structural isomers may be deduced. This CPD activity will provide ideas and suggestions to aid the teaching of the subject through presentations and practical demonstrations. The RSC sponsored "Spectroscopy in a Suitcase" scheme will be highlighted and the portable Bruker alpha FTIR demonstrated and available for use. Useful spectroscopic resources will be made available to attendees after the event for their own teaching purposes. A Certificate of Attendance will be available for your Portfolio There is no Registration Fee If you would like to come to this Meeting, please email Mike Barton (WMCTC Assistant Secretary): wmctcmb@yahoo.com giving your name, school/college address and telephone number (work and home/mobile) and preferred email address. |
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Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 "THE VICTORIAN PHARMACY"  (The speaker outside the Victorian Pharmacy at Blists Hill) What will we find lurking on the dusty shelves? What chemicals are in those cobwebbed jars? Dr J.Collis Browne's original and only genuine Chlorodyne perhaps? Are they safe? Let's clear them out, bin the lot, throw 'em away, down to landfill and out of harms way? Or perhaps we should contact CLEAPSS and Uncle Bob? And while we're at it, let's get rid of the Shop, knock it down, clear the site, away with the old, replace with a multi-story, a Tale of Two Cities? Let's not Quilp or be Cratchity about it. Is there a Twist to the story? Shall we be asking for more? Time to take our medicine and see how Chemistry saved the day? We have Great Expectations in these Hard Times? Perhaps it's time for you to join us at the Pharmacy. Jane is a lecturer in chemistry education, with teaching and supervision responsibilities on the PGDE chemistry. She also contributes to the teaching on BA routes and MA programme. She moved to the University of Strathclyde from Brunel University (London) and prior to that she had been an Initial Teacher Education tutor at Keele University (Staffordshire). She taught science in schools in various parts of England before moving to Higher Education and retains a keen interest in all aspects of school science. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed TOP of PAGE |
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"WMCTC CHEMISTRY QUIZ: THE FINALS" New Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth Building. Once more, let battle commence - the teams test their knowledge and understanding of Chemistry. Coordinated by Dr Mark Read: m.s.d.read@bham.ac.uk See Quiz Tab for further information and how to apply - please reply to Dr Mark Read by 30 November 2018 TOP of PAGE |
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Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 "ADVANCED LEVEL REVISION 1: NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY"  The talk will explore areas designed to help students with NMR, including: • How to analyse NMR spectra. • How to predict how many peaks a particular compound will have in its NMR spectrum. • How to recognise the number of different types of hydrogen (and carbon) atoms in a particular compound. • Use peak positions (chemical shifts) to identify the environment of the atom. • Using integration (peak areas) to find the numbers of each type of atom. • Using the (n+1) rule to obtain information on neighbouring groups of atoms. Simon Cotton obtained his BSc and PhD degrees at Imperial College, London, the latter for research carried out on the chemistry of iron, followed by research and teaching appointments at Queen Mary College, London, and the University of East Anglia. He taught chemistry in both state and independent schools for over 30 years, has lectured widely in the UK, and carried out research on the chemistry of iron, cobalt, scandium, and the lanthanide elements. He has written over a broad spectrum of chemistry, notably on the chemistry of the transition elements, the lanthanides and actinides, including seven books, of which 'Every Molecule Tells a Story' (CRC Press 2012) and (with Paul May) 'Molecules That Amaze Us' (CRC Press 2014) are the latest and 'Lanthanide and Actinide Chemistry' (John Wiley 2006) possibly the best known. For many years he wrote "Soundbite Molecules" as a regular column in the magazine Education in Chemistry, and also writes for Chemistry Review magazine. He wrote and narrated many "Chemistry in Its Element" podcasts for the Royal Society of Chemistry's Chemistry World website and some 30 articles on The Conversation blog. Simon has written over 70 Molecule of The Month entries for the University of Bristol based site [http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/motm.htm ]. He also undertakes work in the media, both newspapers and radio/TV. In 2005 he shared the Royal Society of Chemistry Schools Education Award and received the British Empire Medal in the 2014 New Year's Honour List. At present he is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the School of Chemistry at the University of Birmingham. TOP of PAGE |
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(Jointly organised with the Association for Science Education and the Royal Society of Chemistry ) Venue: Great Hall Aston University "CHEMISTRY AND ENERGY: FROM STEAM TO NUCLEAR POWER" POSTPONED  Exciting Chemistry to delight and fascinate the young audience of future Chemists. This demonstration lecture will consider the chemistry involved in the production and harnessing of energy. From Thomas Newcomen's first successful steam engine in the world, used to pump water from coal mines of Lord Dudley's estates in 1712, to modern day nuclear electricity generating power stations - and a lot more along the way. The important role of chemists in developing new materials that convert energy more efficiently and in a less polluting manner will be highlighted when considering energy materials for the future. Presented by Dr Mark S D Read, Senior Lecturer in Computational Solid State Chemistry, University of Birmingham. The event is FREE but TICKETS are needed. Interested teachers should apply for tickets as soon as possible using this link http://www.aston.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/sro/pre-16/guest-lectures/ Any enquiries about this event please contact sro@aston.ac.uk TOP of PAGE |
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Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 "ADVANCED LEVEL REVISION 2 DNA, PROTEINS & AMINO ACIDS"  Presented by Dr Peter Hoare (Newcastle University) and Dr Matthew Conroy (PDBe): Sixth Form Revision Lecture. This presentation will focus on revising some of the key topics in A-Level biochemistry, e.g. definitions, structure and isomerism in amino-acids, basic protein structure, examples of key proteins including enzymes, substrates and active sites and the structure of DNA including base pairing and the interactions between them, as required for most of the major current A2 Chemistry specifications. It will be an interactive presentation, using electronic voting pads or "zappers" to allow the audience to answer questions about these topics throughout the lecture, chosen to illustrate key points or student misconceptions based on the speakers' experience of teaching and examining this topic over nearly three decades. As with previous revision lectures on transition metals and pH, a booklet of Revision Notes will be provided for each attendee to take away. As this is a relatively new topic in many A-Level Chemistry specifications, there is a paucity of suitable teaching and learning resources available. So for this lecture, Peter will be joined by Dr Matthew Conroy, who currently works at the Protein Data Bank in Europe (PDBe), part of the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), based on the Wellcome Genome Campus near Cambridge. Peter and Matthew have been collaborating for the past 5 years to develop teaching and learning resources for post-16 biochemistry topics for both chemistry and biology, which have all been peer-produced by year 12 Nuffield Research Placement students from North-East schools and final year MChem project students at Newcastle University. They have run joint workshops on the resources at the annual ASE Conference for the past 3 years. Matthew will give an overview of resources available at PDBe for students (and teachers) of both chemistry and biology. He will demonstrate some of the key features of the freely accessible online database of proteins and other large biomolecules, including a range of viewers to explore them in 3D. Dr Peter Hoare is currently a STEM Outreach Officer in the Science Faculty at Newcastle University and was formerly the Chemistry Outreach Officer from 2009 to 2017. Prior to his appointment in 2009, he was a chemistry teacher for 20 years in a high achieving Northumberland High School. He has been an A-level Chemistry marker, at both AS and A2 level, since 1995 and is also an A-level Chemistry Practical Monitor for one of the major UK examining boards. Dr Matthew Conroy is a biochemist specialising in the three dimensional structure of proteins and nucleic acids. He currently works at the Protein Data Bank in Europe which curates and makes freely available thousands of experimentally determined 3D structures of large biological molecules. He has coordinated outreach and training for PDBe, enabling students at school and university to explore protein and nucleic acid structures. Before this, Matthew spent 15 years in active research determining the 3D structure of proteins using 3D NMR, electron microscopy and crystallography. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed TOP of PAGE |
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(Jointly organised with the Association for Science Education and the Royal Society of Chemistry) Venue: Great Hall, Aston University MAGIC MOLECULES: THE MAGIC OF OXYGEN Exciting Chemistry to delight and fascinate the young audience of future Chemists.  Plenty of bizarre and often unpredictable experiments are included, such as
• How to make toothpaste for an elephant • An extraordinary use for marshmallows, and • How to make fire from water. Open University. Year 9 & 10 Lecture Demonstration. The event is FREE but TICKETS are needed. Interested teachers should apply for tickets as soon as possible using this link http://www.aston.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/sro/pre-16/guest-lectures/ Any enquiries about this event please contact sro@aston.ac.uk TOP of PAGE |