chemistry
department news
|
The
following items have been extracted from the parents newsletters written
December 2008 The
Royal Society of Chemistry Top of the Bench Competition Harris
Academy, has won their second round of the Royal Society of Chemistry/Conoco
Philips, ‘Top of the Bench’ competition. The pupils are quizzed on a
very wide range of chemistry or chemistry-related questions, many of
which are outside the Scottish curriculum. Chembus visit On
Tuesday 11th November a selection of S2 classes experienced the Chem Bus
Roadshow organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry and operated by
students and staff from the Universities of Dundee & St Andrews. On
Wednesday 26 October, the Contemporary Sciences Roadshow, organised by
the University of Abertay, visited Harris. Last
week a large group studying Higher and Advanced Higher Chemistry
attended the Royal Society of Chemistry Christmas Lecture – “The
magic of Oxygen” An exothermic experience!
October 2008 On 4th September 48 pupils from S4 attended
presentations and demonstrations on the theme Chemistry at Work at St
Andrews University. The following week twelve pupils from the Higher classes also
attended St Andrews University to participate in laboratory sessions, a
tour of the chemistry department and a talk on careers in chemistry. This week Dr David McGloin of the University of Dundee
visited the school to give an illustrated talk to pupils in S5 & S6
who are studying Higher and Advanced Higher in science subjects. The
talk described how laser light can be used to manipulate cells and
molecules in order to understand what happens on this small scale.
October 2007 Congratulations
to S6 pupils Christopher Black, Claire Matanda and Olivia Walesby, who
gained CREST gold awards following the completion of research projects
during the summer. Twelve selected S4 pupils attended presentations and
demonstrations on the theme of Chemistry at Work at St Andrews
University earlier in the month. Last
week Dr Linda Storey of Aberdeen University visited the school to give a
talk and demonstration to S3 pupils on the topic ‘Fun with Food’.
Pupils participated in experiments in which they converted ‘smelly
cheese’ into ‘apples’ and ‘apricots’.
A team of S2 to S4 pupils has been entered for the Royal Society
of Chemistry ‘Top of the Bench’ quiz.
June 2007 Congratulations
to three S6 pupils Christopher Black, Claire Matanda and Olivia Walesby
who have been awarded Nuffield Science Bursaries which will enable them
to spend 4-5 weeks during the summer holiday engaged in a research
project at an academic institution. Christopher
will be working at SCRI with Dr Tracy Valentine investigating the
variation of species of grass which is closely related to cereal crops
and bio fuels. Claire
will be working with Dr Emese Nagy, University of Dundee School of
Psychology investigation the way new-born infants communicate and
respond to their social environment right after birth. Olivia
will be based at the University of Dundee in the School of Life Sciences
working with Dr Nick Leslie investigating cell signalling and the
regulation of PIP3 metabolism. This research has particular relevance to
issues such as a cancer and obesity. A
group of pupils who are studying Higher Chemistry attended a forensics
taster session at Abertay University on 20th June where they
used several analytical techniques to “solve a murder”. Thanks
to the Scottish Crop Research Institute for passing on their old
spectrophotometer which has been used by three pupils this year in the
course of their Advanced Higher practical investigations. Equipment such
as this enriches the experience for our senior pupils.
June 2006 Nuffield Science Bursary – Congratulations to Malcolm Hutchison S5, who has been selected for a Nuffield Bursary. This will allow Malcolm to undertake a research project at the Scottish Crop Research Institute at Invergowrie during the summer holiday.
December 2005 NASA Educational Film – The Case of Physical Fitness On 24 November Harris Academy received copies of the NASA SCIence FilesTM ‘The Case of Physical Fitness’ educational video. The video was produced by award winning NASA Langley Research Center Video Team led by Shannon Ricles, Program Manager. The 60 Minute educational video shows members of Harris Academy’s S2 class, 2I, describing the results of an investigation into the effects of decalcification in astronaut bones. The interactive video contains four young American students, ‘The Treehouse Gang’, skilfully interviewing astronauts, scientists and sports experts on the importance of physical fitness and nutrition for astronauts on long space voyages, as well as the importance of everyone keeping fit. The video also contains some amazing video footage of astronauts and how the human body works. Harris Academy pupils’ Anna Burns and Adam McDicken were in a lead role, describing the results of the investigation to an audience of many millions in the United States. Also Callum Mackie of class 2I had a star role, when he was filmed at the RRS Discovery Centre; after which the space voyages, take into account the knowledge and experience gained from expeditions such as that of Captain Scott’s voyage of discovery to the Antarctic in 1901-1904. Recently pupils have downloaded their names onto a NASA CD which will be placed on the New Horizon Voyager spacecraft which will be launched in January 2006 on a journey to the planet Pluto and its three moons, the largest being called Charon. The spacecraft will then travel to the Kuiper belt at the outermost limit of our solar system.
June 2005 NASA
Visit
|