Chemistry at Work in Northern Ireland

In addition to traditional Open Day events, we have worked with the Institute for Research in Schools in an RSC Outreach Funded Towards Greener Fragrances project-based learning programme for AS/A-Level and Further Education.

We have also worked with the RSC’s Education Coordinator in Northern Ireland, Dr Johanne Brolly, on a range of activities including hosting teacher continuous professional development events and a successful programme (called Careers and Counterfeit Cures) for key stage 3 students from schools in socio-economically disadvantaged areas, upon which we will be disseminating later this year.

We also have targeted events for key stage 4 and 5 students and their parents/guardians on campus that combine information on degree pathways with interactive demonstrations delivered by our graduate students and information stands from the industry.

Chemistry at Work has always been funded by the RSC Outreach Fund and has been the flagship Outreach event not only for QUB, but for highlighting the prospective careers in the chemical industries in Northern Ireland for many years.

Targeted at key stage 4 students, we had 1,148 students and 52 teachers/lecturers from 28 schools and colleges visit our campus last November to engage with 12 industrial exhibitions on chemical industry careers.

Those exhibits are designed to engage, motivate and encourage students to consider careers in the chemical industries, while also promoting the idea of the RSC’s Futures in Chemistry resource so that the students can appreciate that not all chemists wear white coats.

In attempts to understand the impacts of Chemistry at Work, we utilised an evaluation survey using a QR code. The responses revealed that knowledge of chemistry careers before the event was mixed but it also showed that most respondents learned something about chemistry careers and large percentage were more interested in a chemistry career after the event, highlighting that the event continues to deliver on its main aim.

A significant impact of all our activities is that we have seen increases in our UCAS applications for two years in a row now which has also converted into increased enrolment. No single intervention will have delivered this on its own, but it does seem that our programme of activities, working with others, is helping to increase the interest in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Queen’s.

There has also been impact on my own personal development as I have learned to conduct evaluations more effectively and this is benefiting my career as a chemical education researcher. It is clear to me that the RSC Outreach Fund has played a vital role that has benefitted Queen’s as well as my own career, and I hope that it can continue to do so for the students of Northern Ireland. I’m delighted that our application for Chemistry at Work 2024 is a recipient of the Outreach Fund and I am thankful for that continued support from the Royal Society of Chemistry.