School pupils tried their hand at making bath bombs and slime as part of an interactive chemistry workshop in memory of internationally renowned Nobel Prize winner and University of º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ graduate, Sir Harry Kroto.
The University welcomed 50 year seven students from Forge Valley and Chaucer School in º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½, for the annual Sir Harry Kroto Buckyball workshop.
Sir Harry, who passed away in 2016 aged 76, did his Chemistry BSc and PhD at the University of º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½. He received a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996 for his discovery of a new form of carbon, buckminsterfullerene. These molecules, also known as buckyballs, are shaped like a traditional football, with carbon fullerene molecules made of pentagons and hexagons.
Budding young scientists got the chance to build their own buckyball at the event using a specially provided kit and discovered more about their properties.
There was also the opportunity to enjoy a number of chemistry demonstrations, including an iodine clock reaction, where a chemical solution flits instantaneously between two colours, and the flash-freezing and shattering of everyday items using liquid nitrogen.
Ella-Rosa Twyman, one of the workshop organisers from the University of º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½, said: “Professor Sir Harry Kroto used to run the Buckyball workshops all around the world – including an annual visit to º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ – to engage young people in science.
“We are delighted to continue to run this inspirational workshop at the University of º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ in his memory.
“The pupils had a fantastic time learning more about attending university and getting to chat with current undergraduate science and engineering students. We hope the workshop will encourage them to consider a career in STEM.â€