About this day
For A-level, IB, BTEC Level 3 and T Level chemistry students
Join us for an amazing day of exhilarating chemistry which will take students from key concepts learnt in the classroom to the latest advancements in chemical research! Through five engaging sessions students will meet experienced scientists from academia and industry and be inspired to become the scientists of the future.
Each day also includes a special session on examination success that will ensure students are equipped with the tools they need to excel. There will be plenty of interactivity throughout the day, with polls, quizzes and (of course) your chance to question the scientists – join us at Chemistry in Action this autumn!
Host: Alex Baker (Organic chemist, University of Warwick Exam Session: Peter Hoare (Newcastle University)
“The excellent scientists and communicators were an eye opener to the immense applications and possibilities in science.”
— Northwood College for Girls, Spring 2024 —
Programme & speakers
Strange Ice Andrea Sella, Chemist and broadcaster, University College London
From the freezer to a refreshing drink, ice is everywhere. But how well do you really know it? Andrea Sella will demonstrate how ice is a material so strange that it breaks almost every rule in our textbooks. Discover its unusual properties, compare it with other ices, and uncover what ice may be telling us about the certainty of our futures…
About Professor Andrea Sella
Andrea is a synthetic chemist and broadcaster who is interested in the structure and bonding in the rare earths. He has been involved in numerous radio and television projects.
The wonders of element number six Julie MacPherson, University of Warwick
Julie will explore the many allotropes of carbon, from Nobel Prizes to synthesis and applications. Discover the future with carbon nanotubes, graphene and diamond, and see what a nano world will look like.
About Professor Julie MacPherson
Julie works on the development of new electrochemical sensors using carbon based materials for applications in healthcare and environmental monitoring, she is also active in the use of carbon based electrochemical technologies for the removal of harmful pollutants from water sources.
When Medicines become Drugs – How Small Chemical Changes Change the World Alex Baker, University of Warwick
Why is morphine used in the NHS but heroin isn’t? Why is an isomer of methamphetamine sold over the counter in the USA? It’s simple Chemistry. In this talk, Alex will consider the small chemical changes that separate molecules that heal, from molecules that harm and explore the impacts these chemical changes have on the world. Along the way we will think about isomerism, solubility and how medicines work.
About Dr Alex Baker
Alex is an organic chemist with a particular interest in carbohydrates, polymers and nanoparticles. His work is used to design medical diagnostics with a particular focus on the developing world and fighting health inequalities.
The New Dawn of Materials Discovery Suze Kundu, Digital Science
Discover how AI and data are transforming materials chemistry, driving sustainable solutions to global challenges. Explore cutting-edge technologies revolutionizing the discovery of eco-friendly materials and their impact on our future.
About Dr Suze Kundu
Suze Kundu is a nanochemist, science communicator and Director of Researcher and Community Engagement at Digital Science. She has presented on many shows on the Discovery Channel, National Geographic and Curiosity Stream, been a science expert on TV and radio, and a science writer for Forbes.
Scent-sational Chemistry: Unmasking the Secrets of Smells Stephen Belding, Chemistry Teacher and A-level Examiner
Unlock the mysteries behind the scents that surround us as we dive into the chemistry of smell. Discover how tiny differences in molecular structure—such as isomers—create vastly different aromas, and learn about our incredible ability to detect scents as dilute as 0.1 ppt, equivalent to a single drop in 200 Olympic swimming pools! Join us for an aromatic adventure that connects these fascinating phenomena to your A-level Chemistry studies.
About Dr Stephen Belding
Stephen is Director of Academic Programmes for Rugby School Global Partnerships, a School Governor, A-level Examiner, and Science Council member for ISEB. He believes that curiosity in the classroom is not a moment but a movement—one that ignites ambition, transforms learning, and endures as a lifelong passion for science.