Portable chemistry
Vanessa (second left) and the rest of the team on route to the Isle of Man Picture: 漏 Vanessa Timmermann
175 minutes for chemistry
Vanessa Timmermann is a 3rd year PhD student at the University of Manchester. Originally from Germany, Vanessa moved to Manchester for her PhD, researching uranium coordination complexes. Around her PhD research, Vanessa works in the third year undergraduate teaching labs at Manchester and enjoys taking part in outreach activities whenever she can. She reports from a very successful 鈥楽pectroscopy in a Suitcase鈥� tour of the Isle of Man.
In November 2016 I went with three other scientists for a three day outreach tour of the Isle of Man. Packing all the equipment needed for the 鈥楽pectroscopy in a Suitcase鈥� programme 鈥� including an IR spectrometer, a portable 45 MHz NMR machine, samples to measure, chemicals to make paracetamol, and a whole box of sample spectra and other resources 鈥� we set off in a car towards the Isle of Man. After the three hour boat journey we reached our destination and started the workshops the following day.
Visiting two schools each day, we were working with year 11 to year 13 pupils (age 15-18) to show and explain analytical spectroscopy and do some hands-on measurements and experiments. Meeting students from all different kinds of backgrounds 颅鈥� some having grown up on the island with others attending a boarding school there 鈥� we could not only excite them about chemistry but also chat about their plans after graduation and life on the island itself. The teachers gave us an insight into the differences to working in Britain, for example in obtaining chemicals for their classes.
After a truly amazing time and having covered six schools in three days it was time for us to head back. As it鈥檚 particularly difficult for students on the island to go to a company or university that uses IR and NMR spectroscopy, it was great knowing that we could give them a chance to see the theory applied in their classroom 鈥� even if the NMR was only the size of a shoe box! This unique trip has inspired me to do more outreach and give as many people a chance to enjoy chemistry as much as I do!
The tour was organised by Katayune Presland, Education Coordinator for the North West, on behalf of The University of Manchester.