ALL THE EVENTS ARE FREE OF CHARGE. Ashby Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 8AH. Tel: 01827-311-205 [ e-mail: briggswmctc@btinternet.com ] Please download the Ticket Application Form here. |
Date | Title | |
Tuesday 20 September 2016 | AUTUMN MEETING FOR TEACHERS OF CHEMISTRY. SHARING PRACTICE: CREATIVE CHEMISTRY FOR NEXT TO NOTHING (Teachers CPD meeting) (Includes WMCTC Annual Business Meeting) | Details |
Tuesday 27 September 2016 | MERCURY: WINDOW ON THE INVISIBLE (Sixth Form & ChemNet) | Details |
Tuesday 11 October 2016 | BETTER LOOKING, BETTER LIVING, BETTER LOVING (Sixth Form) | Details |
31 October 2016 | WMCTC CHEMISTRY QUIZ (new format) (Year 10 and Year 11) Last date for applications | Details |
Tuesday 1 November 2016 | WATTS NEW WITH CLEAN ENERGY MATERIALS? BATTERIES INCLUDED
(Sixth Form) This lecture has been postponed. | |
Tuesday 8 November 2016 | MICROSCALE CHEMISTRY PRACTICAL WORK
(Teachers CPD Meeting) | Details |
Tuesday 15 November 2016 | ASTROCHEMISTRY - THE CHEMICAL COSMOS (Sixth Form) | Details |
Tuesday 22 November 2016 | DRUGS AND SPORT (Sixth Form) Booklist Click here | Details |
Tuesday 6 December 2016 | CHEMICAL MAGIC
(Sixth Form) | Details |
Tuesday 17 January 2017 | THE CLIMATE ARGUMENT: ARE WE DOOMED AND DO WE PANIC, OR WHAT CAN WE DO?
(Sixth Form) PowerPoint Presentation click here Video Presentation click here. | Details |
Tuesday 31 January 2017 | DISCOVERING NEW MEDICINES: THE ROLE OF THE CHEMIST
(Sixth Form) | Details |
Tuesday 7 February 2017 |
Chromatography Workshop (Teachers CPD Meeting) | Details |
Tuesday 28 February 2017 |
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND THE ELEMENTS (Sixth Form) | Details |
Tuesday 7 March 2017 | WMCTC CHEMISTRY QUIZ: THE FINALS
(Year 10 and Year 11) Please apply by 31 October 2016 | Details |
Tuesday 14 March 2017 |
GCSE: IDEAS FOR REQUIRED PRACTICAL WORK (Teachers CPD Meeting) | Details |
Tuesday 21 March 2017 |
ADVANCED LEVEL REVISION: TRANSITION METAL CHEMISTRY (Sixth Form) | Details |
Tuesday 2 May 2017 |
ADVANCED LEVEL REVISION: ORGANIC CHEMISTRY MECHANISMS
(Sixth Form) | Details |
Thursday 29 June 2017 |
Magic Molecules: The Magic of Oxygen Lecture Demonstration (Aston University) (Year 9 and Year 10 students) | Details |
Saturday 1 July 2017 |
Visit to the National Space Centre (Leicester)
(Teachers Meeting & Family Day) | Details |
Wednesday 5 July 2017 |
Teachers : Visit to Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery Conservation Department (Teachers CPD Meeting) | Details |
September 2017 to July 2018 | PROGRAMME FOR SEPTEMBER 2017 TO JULY 2018 A Programme Summary will be posted By 1 July 2017 | Details to follow |
Venue: King Edward VI High School for Girls (B15 2UB) AUTUMN MEETING FOR ALL TEACHERS OF CHEMISTRY "SHARING PRACTICE: CREATIVE CHEMISTRY FOR NEXT TO NOTHING" Looking for new ideas for the teaching of Chemistry? Wishing you had a simple way of illustrating a conceptual topic? Interested in what websites other teachers have found useful? For all of this and more, come along and find out what other teachers have found effective in the classroom. There will be a series of brief presentations illustrating various themes and approaches, followed by the opportunity to discuss points raised and collect free resources. Why not also bring along anything you have found useful and make this an evening when everyone benefits from sharing good practice? Computers will be available for use as well as wireless internet access for your own devices. As usual, the evening will be a marvellous networking opportunity in a relaxed environment, with light refreshments being served. Meet new colleagues or renew old contacts. Why not invite your colleagues to this evening? Perhaps you would like to make a positive contribution to the continuing development of Chemical Education in the Midlands Region? If so, you may wish to join the WMCTC Committee as one of our teacher representatives. NQT or experienced teacher - your input will be very welcome and much appreciated. Please let us know. The WMCTC Annual Business Meeting takes place during the evening and the agenda includes the election of teacher representatives to serve on the Committee - an excellent CPD opportunity. A Certificate of Attendance will be available for your Portfolio There is no Registration Fee If you would like to come to this Meeting, please email the Chair (Jill Oldfield: jo@kehsmail.co.uk ) giving your name, school/college address, telephone number and preferred email address. |
Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 "MERCURY: WINDOW ON THE INVISIBLE" Mercury is the most beautiful element in the periodic table. And the most reviled. The only liquid metallic element at room temperature, its inertness and density have made it crucial to science from physics to physiology and earth science. And its red ore cinnabar has appeared in artwork for over 2,000 years. Dr Andrea Sella, explores the world of mercury, ending with the question, can we bring it to life? Dr Andrea Sella is a chemist and broadcaster based at UCL where he is a Professor of Inorganic Chemistry. BBC Radio 4 described him as "a science showman, whose theatrical demonstrations of chemistry are filling theatres up and down the country". Chemistry World reported on Andrea Sella's outreach and role as a science communicator, calling him "one of the UK's loudest chemistry cheerleaders". In 2014 he was awarded the Michael Faraday Prize for his excellent work in science communication. He contributes to BBC World Service's business series "The Elements" and writes a monthly "Classic Kit" column for Chemistry World. Professor Andrea Sella, University College London. Sixth Form Lecture Demonstration. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed. A ChemNet Meeting precedes this talk TOP of PAGE |
Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 BETTER LOOKING, BETTER LIVING, BETTER LOVING Better Looking, Better Living, Better Loving is about the often unacknowledged role of chemistry in grooming, health, food and love making and which takes the form of the many products that chemists have devised to improve these areas of our life. Better Looking will focus on the cosmetics and skin treatments that make people feel better about themselves, as well as the less serious problems of baldness that afflicts men and how to deal with hairy chests. Better Living will look at the way in which chemists can solve the problem of feeding 9 billion people, and have put an end to a life-long mental condition that once blighted millions of lives. Better Loving will focus on the role of chemistry in both recreational and procreational sex - and how it can help when things go wrong. Dr John Emsley, University of Cambridge and popular science writer. Sixth Form Lecture Demonstration. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed TOP of PAGE |
Venue: King Edward VI High School for Girls (B15 2UB) MEETING FOR ALL TEACHERS OF CHEMISTRY "MICROSCALE CHEMISTRY PRACTICAL WORK" Bob Worley, Chemistry Adviser with CLEAPSS. "You can't see anything!" "It is not in the syllabus!" "It is only for the less able!" "Where are the bangs and flashes?" "It is for developing nations with no labs!" "It is too fiddly for my students!" You cannot do quantitative chemistry surely!" I have heard them all before but things are changing. The Examination Boards are now becoming very interested because the techniques on view tonight, gathered from all over the world, produce superior results, help in the understanding of chemical processes at the nano-level, and are carried out more quickly so that more time can be used in pressing home what is happening. They come with green credentials of less material used and less waste. Some of these ideas are being used in Universities in the United States and as outreach in the North East of England. I have been asked to demonstrate these all over the world at Chemical Education meetings. The evening will begin with demonstrations, including magnesium/oxygen reaction, getting the iron/sulfur reaction to work (well nearly), the Hofmann Voltameter, "magnetic" magnesium and the amazing diffusing precipitates and complexes. You will be able to try some of these procedures and others such as microelectrolysis, titration, and reactions on a plastic sheet, conductivity, diffusing precipitates, indicators and % water in copper sulfate. Finally, I will show you TLC of chloroplast in 5 minutes, cracking in 5 minutes and the hydrogenation of propene! Oh yes and there might be bang or a flash in the evening to keep the "edutainers" happy! Bob Worley has over 20 years experience in dealing with safety and practical procedure with chemicals in schools in the UK. The aim of CLEAPSS is to enable practical work to take place so it can continue, despite the concerns of Employers, Local Authorities, Teachers teaching outside of their specialism etc. This initiated his involvement in alternative procedures into normal-size chemistry and then into research into microscale techniques but now he finds these small scale techniques do more than making chemistry practical work safer, they enhance classroom management, challenge students in their thinking about what happens at the nano-level and introduce both teachers and students to new chemicals and reactions. (See www.microchemuk.weebly.com , and the CLEAPSS Youtube channel) . A Certificate of Attendance will be available for your Portfolio There is no Registration Fee If you would like to come to this Meeting, please email the Chair (Jill Oldfield: jo@kehsmail.co.uk ) giving your name, school/college address, telephone number and preferred email address. TOP of PAGE |
Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 ASTROCHEMISTRY - THE CHEMICAL COSMOS Astronomers use basically the same tools as chemical spectroscopists to look at stars linking spectrographs to their telescopes to measure the spectra of distant objects. Some objects, such as our Sun, produce relatively simple spectra showing the range of atoms present in the star. Other objects, such as low mass stars and "failed stars" or brown dwarfs, are so cool that their spectra is full of molecular fingerprints. However, in fact the spectra of all objects, as they grow older, become richer. We see evidence for the formation of molecules in the cooler parts of the stellar envelope. These molecules can be released from the stars into the interstellar medium only to be reduced to their constituent atoms by the harsh radiation environment to be found there. So, let us take a look at how astrochemists explore a chemically controlled cosmos using the tools of a chemist and an astronomer. Dr June McCombie, School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham. Sixth Form Lecture. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed TOP of PAGE |
Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 DRUGS AND SPORT A high topical subject particularly in Olympic Year. An opportunity to get to grips with this important issue. What are they? What do they do? Do they have side-effects? How are they detected? Dr Simon Cotton, School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham. Sixth Form Lecture Demonstration. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed TOP of PAGE |
Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 THE 40th ANNIVERSARY PRESENTATION CHEMICAL MAGIC By popular request, their majestic maestros masterfully maximise mysteriously many moving memorable magical momentous magnificant masquerades metaphorically. Once more, the dynamic duo will cast their spells. See the magic for yourselves - be entertained and inspired. Dr Ray Plevey & Mrs Rosemary Plevey, School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham. Sixth Form Lecture Demonstration. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed TOP of PAGE |
Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 "THE CLIMATE ARGUMENT: ARE WE DOOMED AND DO WE PANIC, OR WHAT CAN WE DO?" No spin or soundbites here - it's time to get to grips with the greenhouse effect, global warming, ozone depletion and climate change, and discover how such environmental issues influence United Kingdom and International Policy. Perhaps all may not be a simple as it seems. You will be made aware of the problems that face the planet. Rest assured, we are in good hands, our politicians are scientifically literate . Professor Richard Tuckett, School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham. Sixth Form Lecture. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed TOP of PAGE |
THE P F FRANKLAND MEMORIAL LECTURE Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 DISCOVERING NEW MEDICINES: THE ROLE OF THE CHEMIST Chemistry is the cornerstone in the continuing search for new medicines. Since the efforts of William Henry Perkins to synthesise the antimalarial quinine in the mid nineteenth century, chemists have used their skills to prepare compounds for the treatment of disease. This talk will start with a brief review of the treatment of ailments through the ages, and from there go on to look at the work of Perkin which led others to the discovery of the sulphonamide antibiotics. The many roles played by chemists in the modern drug discovery process will be considered, looking at how chemical synthesis, natural product isolation, and genome data are used to generate promising compounds, and how these are developed into successful drugs. Dr John Snaith, School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham. Sixth Form Lecture. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed TOP of PAGE |
Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 Meet in the Foyer of Haworth Building "CHROMATOGRAPHY WORKSHOP" Coordinated by Dr Ian Shannon, School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham This meeting is of particular interest for teachers of Advanced Level Chemistry and will reflect the requirements of the new examination specifications, including thin layer chromatography (TLC) and gas-liquid chromatography (GLC). It will also be useful to teachers who want to extend their knowledge of chromatography A Certificate of Attendance will be available for your Portfolio. There is no Registration Fee. Tea and Coffee will be served from 6.45pm If you would like to come to this Meeting or have more information, please email Mike Barton (WMCTC Assistant Secretary) [ wmctcmb@yahoo.com ] giving your name, school/college address and telephone number (work and home/mobile) and preferred email address. TOP of PAGE |
Venue: School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham: Haworth 101 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND THE ELEMENTS Climate change is a much publicised recent phenomenon thought to be brought about due to anthropogenic influences. This will affect many aspects of human life from travel to recreation and even the basic comforts of everyday life.The talk will have a snow theme looking at how climate change is affecting the mountain environment through to new snowsports technologies to enhance performance and recreational skiers and snowboarders. The talk will also demonstrate how exciting research projects can generate media interest that helps to get a positive message across to the public. Professor Peter Styring, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Sheffield. Sixth Form Lecture. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed. TOP of PAGE |
WMCTC CHEMISTRY QUIZ: THE FINALS New Venue: King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys (B14 7QJ) Once more, let battle commence - the last ten teams test their knowledge and understanding of Chemistry. Coordinated by Dr Andy Taylor: a.taylor@camphillboys.bham.sch.uk Preliminary Rounds take place in January and February 2017 See Quiz Tab for an entry form please reply by 31 October 2016 TOP of PAGE |
Venue: King Edward VI High School for Girls (B15 2UB) MEETING FOR ALL TEACHERS OF CHEMISTRY AND TECHNICIANS . "GCSE CHEMISTRY: IDEAS FOR PRACTICAL WORK, INCLUDING THE REQUIRED PRACTICALS FOR THE NEW SPECIFICATIONS" Effective practical work is used to engage, motivate and inspire students. Come along and experience a variety of experiments that are suitable as student practicals covering the new specifications. NQT or experienced teacher, you will be able to choose which experiments to try out and discuss with other practising teachers. New ideas and novel approaches - have an enjoyable evening with hands-on Chemistry that you can take back to your school and perhaps inspire a future Chemist? As usual, the evening will be a marvellous networking opportunity in a relaxed environment, with light refreshments being served. Meet new colleagues or renew old contacts. Why not invite your colleagues to this meeting? A Certificate of Attendance will be available for your Portfolio. There is no Registration Fee If you would like to come to this Meeting, please email the Chair (Jill Oldfield: jo@kehsmail.co.uk ) giving your name, school/college address, telephone number and preferred email address. TOP of PAGE |
Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 "ADVANCED LEVEL REVISION: TRANSITION METAL CHEMISTRY" It will be an interactive presentation, using electronic voting pads or "zappers" to allow the audience to answer questions about transition metals throughout the lecture, chosen to illustrate key points or student misconceptions based on the speakers extensive experience of teaching and examining this topic over two decades. There will also be a few chemical demonstrations to illustrate key points about Transition Metal chemistry. Details of a useful online learning resource, developed by the speaker in collaboration with a worldwide research database, will also be provided. The speaker, Dr Peter Hoare, is currently the Chemistry Outreach Officer in the School of Chemistry at Newcastle University, but prior to his appointment in 2009, was a chemistry teacher for 20 years in a high achieving Northumberland High School. He is also an A-level Chemistry marker, at both AS and A2 level, since 1995 for one of the major UK examining boards. Sixth Form Revision Lecture Demonstration. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed TOP of PAGE |
Venue: University of Birmingham, School of Chemistry, Haworth 101 "ADVANCED LEVEL REVISION: ORGANIC CHEMISTRY MECHANISMS" Worried about this so called 'difficult' area of Advanced Level Chemistry? Do you understand reaction mechanisms? Not sure about those curly arrows? This revision lecture will help students prepare for their A-Level Summer Examinations. All the main reaction mechanisms will be encountered, with structural representation, naming of organic molecules and terminology reinforced as well. The lecture will include organic mechanisms from both AS and A2 specifications. Professor Jon Preece, Head of the School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed Please download the Ticket Application Form here. TOP of PAGE |
Venue: Great Hall, Aston University MAGIC MOLECULES: THE MAGIC OF OXYGEN Exciting Chemistry to delight and fascinate the young audience of future Chemists. Plenty of bizarre and often unpredictable experiments are included, such as
How to make toothpaste for an elephant An extraordinary use for marshmallows, and How to make fire from water. Open University. Year 9 & 10 Lecture Demonstration. Tickets needed. Ticket Application Form must be completed Please download the Ticket Application Form here. TOP of PAGE |
(Jointly organised with the Association for Science Education West Midland Region and the Royal Society of Chemistry) "A VISIT TO THE NATIONAL SPACE CENTRE: SPACE CHEMISTRY" (Exploration Drive, Leicester, LE4 5NS) There is no charge for this Visit Of particular interest to all teachers of Chemistry (KS1 to A-Level.) [ Space Centre Website: http://spacecentre.co.uk/home/ ]. The Programme (Specially arranged for us): 10.00am - 10.15am: Arrival and Registration. 10.15am - 10.25am: Welcome and Introduction. 10.30am - 11.00am: We Are Stars Planetarium Show. 11.00am - 12.00 noon: Comet Chemistry*. 12.00 noon - 2.00pm: Lunch and Access to the National Space Centre. 2.00pm - 3.00pm: Rocket Chemistry**. 3.00pm - 3.30pm: Talk about Education and the National Space Academy. 3.30pm - 3.40pm: Plenary. 3.40pm - 5.00pm: Access to the National Space Centre. *Comet Chemistry Illustrated talk about comets accompanied by hands-on practical work suitable for students in all key stages that teachers will be able to adapt for their own classroom. Teachers can either carry out the experiments or enjoy watching their children carry out the experiments. **Rocket Chemistry A series of demonstrations and practical work illustrating the importance of combustion in rocketry. There will be something here for all age groups and ideas that teachers will be able to use in their own classrooms. Places are limited, so please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Closing date for applications is Friday 16 June 2017. TOP of PAGE |
(Jointly organised with the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Association for Science Education West Midland Region) "A VISIT TO THE BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM & ART GALLERY CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT" (Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3DH) There is no charge for this Visit The Conservation Department at Birmingham Museums Trust was the first to be established outside London in 1970s. The Department aims to understand more about the objects it is working on and in recent years has been fortunate to add to the investigative equipment. We will be shown a number of techniques including:
FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) used to identify organic materials. a digital X-ray unit which reveals the internal structure of the collection. a laser unit which facilitates cleaning. A Certificate of Attendance will be available for your Portfolio. There is no Registration Fee. Places are limited, so please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Closing date for applications is Wednesday 28 June 2017. If you would like to come on this Visit, please email Mike Barton (WMCTC Assistant Secretary) wmctcmb@yahoo.com giving your name, school/college address and telephone number (work and home/mobile) and preferred email address. Also, as this Visit is in school time, please confirm that you have the support of your Headteacher / Principal for you to attend. TOP of PAGE |