RGS Pupils Celebrate Podium Finish at Chemistry Competition
Last Saturday, our Chemistry team comprising pupils from Years Nine to Year Eleven arrived at the University of Birmingham’s Collaborative Teaching Laboratories ready to demonstrate their scientific skills in the prestigious Top of the Bench Chemistry Competition (TOTB). Representing team ‘Copper’ was Sihan Fu, Arthur Hasling, Lexie Small, and Isabella Gabriel who were quietly confident having spent the days leading up to the event preparing for the challenges that awaited them.
The team split into two pairs to complete a Junior and Senior written paper and, after an hour of calm in the building, the team returned with smiles all around. After copious refreshments of Pringles and caramel-infused digestives, they were taken to the Undergraduate laboratories to start their practical work. Once again, the pupils arrived in the main foyer feeling a sense of elation that it had gone as well as possible.
After a generous buffet lunch hosted by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), the pupils were treated to a short lecture by the Leverhulme International Professor Tomislav Friscic on his research into finding sustainable ways to carry out chemical reactions in the absence of solvents via mechanochemistry. Pupils learned a variety of reactions to extract metals by grinding solid compounds together, reducing the impact of toxic waste spills on the environment. One key application of his research points towards using mechanochemistry to recycle essential transition metals from electronic waste, a pressing issue for us today. In addition to delivering the talk with humour, he inspired the pupils with his career journey in which he said that Chemistry had altered his life path from a young age, allowing him to work all over the world at high-profile institutions to fulfil his research goals.
Following the talk, prizes were announced. As always, the level of competition was incredibly high, with only a mark separating the top five teams. We placed joint third with King Edward VI Five Ways School, and won £40 worth of Amazon vouchers. The team was pleased to be on the podium amongst seasoned competitors, including Bishop Vesey’s and Twycross House School. The laughter and exhaustion of the pupils in the minibus on the way home certainly echoed a good day’s work for RGS!
Our grateful thanks go to Dr Mark Read and the RSC for their provision of the event and Mr Sykes for driving the minibus. Lastly, my thanks go to the entire TOTB team for their enthusiasm and hard work in what was a super team effort.
Dr William Stephen, Teacher of Chemistry
