Pupils take a scientific approach

The Salters’ Festival of Chemistry, held in partnership with the Royal Society of Chemistry, allowed teams of 11 to 13-year-olds from 12 different schools to take part in a range of activities.

The Salters’ Challenge, entitled Murder comes to Salterstown, required the children to use their analytical chemistry skills to solve a fictional murder.

In the afternoon, students took part in another experiment in the Department of Life Sciences lab, this time related to helping the USS Enterprise.

Organised by Dr Bushra Ahmed, a principal lecturer in biochemistry at the university, the festival is currently in its 11th year and is part of a series of 49 festivals hosted by various universities and colleges around the UK.

Dr Ahmed said: “The best thing about the event is that all the children were very much passionate and enthusiastic about the activities they performed.

“Every single student wanted to win the first prize and they really worked hard for that.

“It was a great experience for them and success for us.”

The Salters’ Festivals of Chemistry are an initiative of The Salters’ Institute, which aims to promote the appreciation of chemistry and related sciences among the young and to encourage careers in the teaching of chemistry.