Outreach: Salters’ Festivals of Chemistry
Chemistry in the real world 26 June 2019
Earlier in June, the School of Chemistry hosted the Salters’ Festivals of Chemistry bringing children as young as 11 into the department to take part in the challenges, all hoping to win prizes. We find out more below:
What are the Salters’ Festivals of Chemistry?
The Salters’ Festivals are one-day Chemistry events designed to bring enthusiastic pupils into a university chemistry department to take part in practical chemistry experiments. The main emphasis of the day is on fun. At each event, the students will take part in two challenges, one from the Salters’ Institute and one set by the University before enjoying one of our Flash Bang shows and the prize giving.
The University works in partnership with the Salters’ Institute and the Royal Society of Chemistry to deliver these events. We are grateful to our sponsors Fujifilm and Lanxess for their support this year.
What happens at the Salters’ Festivals of Chemistry?
Teams of students arrive to the Chemistry Department where the staff taking part in the day greet them. They take part in a briefing session and head to the labs where they complete their first challenge, the Salters’ Challenge which was “One of our elements is missing”. After a well-earned lunch break students return to the lab to take part in a challenge set by the University – this year they made rainbows.
Our fantastic team of student demonstrators, who were on hand to guide them in the labs, supported the teams as they completed both challenges (being very careful not to give them the answers!).
Meanwhile judges, who had taken time away from their day jobs to take part in the festivals, went round to assess the students and decide on their winners.
Our congratulations to all of the teams who took part and especially our prize winners from the three days.
Thursday 6th June
| The Salters’ Challenge | The University Challenge |
| 1st – The Grange School | 1st – Bolton School (Girls Division) |
| 2nd – Our Lady’s Catholic High School | 2nd – Furness Academy |
| 3rd – St Ambrose College | 3rd – Parrenthorn High School |
Friday 7th June
| The Salters’ Challenge | The University Challenge |
| 1st – Cheadle Hulme School | 1st – Sale Grammar School |
| 2nd – Altrincham Grammar School for Boys | 2nd – Canon Slade School |
| 3rd – St James’s Church of England High School | 3rd – Bolton School (Boys Division) |
Monday 10th June
| The Salters’ Challenge | The University Challenge |
| 1st – Tauheedul Islamic Girls High School | 1st – Rose Bridge Academy |
| 2nd – Oldham Hulme Grammar School | 2nd – Chapel-en-le-Frith High School |
| 3rd – The King’s School, Macclesfield | 3rd – Stretford Grammar School |
It’s been an absolute delight to host the Salters’ Festivals of Chemistry again this year, and our thanks go to everyone who helped make the day possible.
Find out more about the Salters’ Institute here.
Find out more about the Royal Society of Chemistry here.
To find out more about outreach opportunities in the School of Chemistry please email outreach.chemistry@manchester.ac.uk
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