Welcome to the Outreach section of the School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology website
The School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Dublin Chemistry and the College of Life Sciences proudly offers a series of different outreach programs and seminars designed to bring the excitement of chemistry to schools in the Dublin area for various age groups.
Our goal is to educate and discuss the diversity and wonder of chemistry and the role that it plays in modern society.
About our Outreach Programme
Through our graduate student outreach program, a pair of students will visit your school and provide a 30-minute visual presentation on different aspects of chemistry and life as a chemist, followed by a question and answer period. This is intended primarily for students in their transition year and those about to make their CAO choices.
About our Outreach Events
In November, the School hosts an open-public night with lectures from leading chemistry professors and graduate students. This is followed by a tour of our equipment and facilities in our new renovated laboratories.
In April, the School annually hosts an open-day with a demonstration of various chemistry experiments which highlight a green theme and is targeted towards younger students who are at the beginning of exploring science in school.
In June, the school plays a role in the UCD’s UniLife Science Summer School and operates a laboratory session where students learn and perform experiments in green chemistry. For student comments on the Summer School please follow: http://www.ucd.ie/science/news/10jun/2010_student_stories.html
Uni-Science Summer School Programme
The School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology annually presents a hands-on laboratory session for 5th year transition students under the Uni-Science Summer School Program run by the College of Science. These students from all parts of Ireland are selected based on educational merit and interest in science. This year, 70 students learn about various aspects of green chemistry and solutions offered by chemists to provide alternative energy. Specifically, students prepare dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) using natural fruit, such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and pomegranates. After going through the grinding and extraction process, natural dye molecules within the fruit are deposited on surfaces of TiO2 (a powder used in cosmetics) coated on glass. When the cell is assembled, students test the DSSC, and the pair of students with the highest voltage win a prize – a beautiful book on chemistry called Elements. Afterwards, students using molecular models construct four common organic molecules that are encountered in everyday life; namely zingerone, indigo, vanillin and caffeine. During the presentation, students are exposed to the target areas of the SCCB in designing new drugs molecules, and specifically with the models, the importance of heterocyclic models. The opportunity allows interaction between, staff, post-graduate students and transition-students, importantly impressing the importance and interest of chemistry as a solid career choice. Dr. Andrew Phillips is the School's representative at the event. For further information on the event, please click here
Transition Year work experience at the Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology and UCD School of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Science Outreach Events
http://www.ucd.ie/science/events.html
Further Information
If you are teacher in the Dublin or greater area and are interested in engaging with our outreach program, please contact Dr. Andrew D. Phillips at andrew.phillips@ucd.ie or Telephone: 01 716 2075 with your request.
