Greenhead College Chemistry Department

I had a wonderful, inspirational A-level chemistry teacher, Jonathan Godfrey. He's the reason I studied chemistry at university, and probably the reason I went into teaching.

Go for it! So much variety in terms of kinds of jobs, locations, etc.

Challenging, evolving and critical for the future.

The people. All with a common goal to deliver a first-class product for the students in a caring, supportive environment, led by an exceptional teacher and manager.

A fossil fuel-free society. I hope I'm around around to see the UK powered solely by renewables, and witness a chink of optimism in the global warming crisis.

Underpins both the biological and physical world around us. Has been central to improving quality of life for centuries. Is able to solve problems facing us currently and also in the future.

Bismuth

I was lucky enough to have some really inspirational science teachers at school and then there were the classic TV programmes, which really date me: Connections, Tomorrow's World and Life on Earth.

I'm inspired by some of the young people I'm lucky enough to teach. They've got heaps of drive and resilience and are determined to make a difference.

Helping young people achieve things they didn't know they could do. It's brilliant when you see a student's confidence, knowledge and understanding blossom.

Every young person needs a grounding in science to understand the causes of climate change and biodiversity loss and to appreciate the role that scientific and technological developments can play in reducing their severity.  Scientific literacy is also needed to see through greenwashing and to play an active role as a citizen, making informed lifestyle choices and holding those in positions of power to account for their actions.

After millennia of exploiting natural resources and not truly considering the consequences there's now much more focus on doing things more sustainably. If we collaborate it's amazing what humans can achieve, but we need to do it now and not pretend chemistry can solve everything.

Carbon.

I have always been interested in science. Since I was very small, I remember questioning everything and wanting to find out why things happened and wanting to understand how the world works. At primary school, for example, I liked how science could explain why some objects floated and others sank. I liked making predictions and doing experiments to find out if they were true or not. Chemistry is the science of the universe; what’s not to like? From flame tests, explosions and smells to titrations, equations and elegant solutions. Chemistry is the best.

Ordinary people who overcome adversity or challenges through hard work and determination inspire me. I can think of countless examples of students who I have taught, who have through hard work overcome different barriers to achieve their goals. Ultra marathon runners do much the same thing through the course of a race. The ultra marathon runner Jasmin Paris ran the whole of the Pennine Way in winter 2019, whilst expressing milk for her baby. She won the overall race and set a course record that has not yet been bettered by a man or a woman.

Working in a team of brilliant professionals and chemists whose aim is to provide the best education and opportunities for the students that we teach. A large team has the power of scale and this in itself is motivating as the work we undertake has purpose. The team are constantly striving to improve and are inspirationally led.

Research, ask questions, get involved and take opportunities. Find out what you are interested in and what you would like to achieve and stick at it. Chemistry is rewarding and can provide opportunities and novel solutions to many problems.

We have a big team that has a diverse background with a range of different expertise and experience. As a team we work to provide an outstanding education with extra opportunities for all. The team is special because we have the power of scale and can achieve in a short time what smaller team might take years to do. The team is led inspirationally, is exceptionally well organised and has purpose. Importantly, whilst we all care about the work that we do, the team also has a sense of humour and a sense of camaraderie.

I am excited about how science is improving our move towards greener technologies, for example the demand for lithium-ion batteries, which require lithium and cobalt, elements in short supply that are used to provide energy for laptops, tablets and phones. Often these are mined unethically. However, chemists are working on alternatives that could use sodium and carbon obtained from bio waste – a genius solution that could change how we store chemical energy.

Chemistry is important in everything that we do and is essential to life. We are all chemists, whether we know it or not.

Visiting the antimatter factory at CERN in Geneva. The factory contained ELENA, a deceleration ring called the Extra Low ENergy Antiproton. This has enabled the scientists to trap antihydrogen (the opposite particle of matter to hydrogen), proposed by Paul Dirac in 1928. The scientists' aim at CERN was to test if the laws of physics and chemistry that apply to ordinary matter also apply to antimatter in the same way. Wow! Imagine having an Antiperiodic table.

In 2017 I broke my ankle badly and had to have an operation to put in a metal plate and pins. This is currently still in my ankle (medical grade stainless steel – although, I would have preferred titanium).  Subsequently, I have strengthened my ankle and through persistence and determination can now run further and faster than I could before. I took inspiration from the Japanese culture of mending broken objects. When a broken object is mended any cracks are filled with gold, the belief being that when a broken object is mended in this way, it has more history and worth than it had when it was new.

Every young person needs a grounding in science to understand the causes of climate change and biodiversity loss and to appreciate the role that scientific and technological developments can play in reducing their severity.  Scientific literacy is also needed to see through greenwashing and to play an active role as a citizen, making informed lifestyle choices and holding those in positions of power to account for their actions.

Chemical sciences are providing a greater understanding of all life. It is through improving our understanding that we are able to develop medicines, improve diet and lifestyles that benefit us all.

Teamwork is important in all aspects of life.  This is true in all great things that have been achieved by humans, for example the discovery of the structure of DNA and NASA’s moon landings. Bees have understood this for 200 million years and have evolved as a highly successful supraorganism. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Element number 6, carbon, is my favourite element. Carbon is the basis of all life on Earth. Carbon is tetravalent, giving it the ability to form four bonds with different elements simultaneously. This has enabled millions of different carbon-based compounds to be formed. Carbon atoms can be arranged differently in their elemental form so that different structures form, giving rise to allotropes of carbon such as graphite, diamond and fullerenes. I like that we are still finding new applications for the use of carbon because of how diverse it is. For example, Inov8, a trail running company based in the Lake District, are using graphene to infuse the rubber of trail running shoes to make the rubber extra sticky and extra durable.

I first became interested in science in primary school. Carrying out simple science experiments and projects helped develop my understanding of the importance of science in the world in which we live. The enthusiasm of of the teachers only helped in enhancing my interest in the subject.

The teachers and students that I have had the pleasure to work with throughout my career have been an inspiration. The commitment, dedication and resilience shown has always made me feel privileged to be part of the teaching profession.

Helping and supporting students to achieve their potential motivates me.

A good science education helps us understand better the challenges faced in the world today. It allows access to opportunities that can help provide solutions to the issues faced globally, such as reducing pollution, combatting climate change, decreasing the use of fossil fuels, increasing sustainability and many more.

Potassium – The reactivity with water is a wonderful demonstration and one that I vividly remember from when I attended school. The ions have a lovely lilac flame colour and are required by all cells in the body to function.

I had always been interested in science throughout my secondary school education and this was the reason I chose to study it further. It was my A-level teacher that lit the fire when it came to chemistry; her enthusiasm and her way of teaching were really engaging. The areas covered at A-level went a lot deeper than the GCSE course had ever gone and it made me understand the molecular world a lot more. The problem solving aspect also suited my learning style so I wanted to explore the subject further at university.

I do find the students motivate me a lot. Although quite a lot of the time their enthusiasm in lessons is a little low, when they understand a concept or solve a complex problem the excitement they have is infectious. I feel like 16–19 education is a really important stage as they are deciding what sort of career they wish to pursue and to be a part of that journey is really exciting.

Do it! I've always found the subject really exciting and it only gets better as you carry it on. There are so many options when it comes to a career in chemistry and it's not always wearing a lab coat. The research areas going on currently in the UK cover a wide range of different areas, some you may not have realised actually required chemistry.

Teamwork is a massive thing in the scientific world. Everybody has a role in order to achieve the bigger picture. In most scientific environments there are groups of people with specific roles working together to achieve a common goal.

Boron.

So many people inspire me, but it is the small acts around me that often inspire me the most. I am amazed by so many of the students I teach, their drive and determination to succeed, their ability to absorb and process new information, the way they accept the challenges facing them and persevere. The staff I work with in the department are also a real inspiration, they have such passion for teaching young people as well as interest in the subject matter, their collective ideas and experiences bring so much to the department and college. Every small act that eases someone else’s day or brings someone joy is just as inspiring to me as the big things that make headlines.

The work we do has such a big impact on young people’s lives and futures. Looking back on what the students have achieved with the help of the team motivates me to keep pushing forward. Even the smallest thing we do to help a student can have an enormous effect.

Every single member is amazing and brings something special to the team. We are united with a clear vision to provide the best possible chemistry A-level experience to the students we teach. A-level chemistry is challenging, and students can become overwhelmed, but the team have created a department that is open and welcoming with students at the heart of everything they do. We are also good friends and that really helps to keep such a big team and department running smoothly.

Chemistry is everywhere around us and you can’t escape it. Chemistry has been improving the world around us (and perhaps upsetting it too) as far back as we have historical records. As we move into the future, chemists will be needed to innovate further and solve the problems we currently face and those we don’t yet know will come.

Dmitri Mendeleev.

The entire chemistry department at Greenhead. They are amazing at what they do and there's not a day that's gone by since I started a year ago that I haven't learned something from one of them.

Getting my first thank you present from a student!

Working as a technician in such a supportive and knowledgeable department makes me feel very valued. Supporting the teaching of nearly 1,000 chemistry students and seeing their journey gives me much pleasure and job satisfaction.

Dedication, great leadership, communication, collaboration and adaptability. But most of all the enthusiasm for teaching the next generations of chemists.

We have a huge new carbon neutral build in progress. It will provide seven teaching labs and other learning spaces for the students in chemistry and other sciences.

Because chemistry is the core of all the sciences.

I was successful in gaining the Science education and leadership (Science technician) qualification by the University of York, one of the first 10 technicians to do so, having been invited on the pilot scheme in 2011.

I am very proud to have been awarded the Salters' National Chemistry Technician of the Year award in 2013.

Tellurium (Te) – Because it is the first two letters of my name and profession.

A desire to see students develop and succeed in chemistry by making the subject accessible.

A hardworking and dedicated team leader who  is knowledgeable and supportive. As a team we work collaboratively, sharing our differing expertise in a variety of fields in chemistry including professional industrial experience. We have a shared goal of providing a quality education for our students both in terms of academic study and also extra-curricular opportunities.

I find the concept of molecular machines fascinating. Research in this area has developed in the past 10 years or so and highlights the ingenuity and creativity of the multidisciplinary teams of scientists who work in this field, particularly chemists. It will be interesting to see  how these materials might be utilised in real-world applications in the future.

Being able to work with the University of Huddersfield in our Real World Chemistry initiative. This year the students produced high quality posters and delivered professional presentations describing the focus of the research. Opportunities like this are very rare for A-level students and it is a privilege to be able give our students a taster of academia.

Chemistry does not stand in isolation from other fields of innovation – teamwork is important for sharing of knowledge and expertise and to allow chemistry to be applied in new ways.

Lead (Pb).

Ensure you research the profession you want to pursue in depth to understand what is involved and what qualifications you need and not to give up.

A good science education is the building blocks in pursuing different fields of science, and it is especially more important now, when the world is facing such issues as climate change.

Teamwork is essential in making advancement in all fields of science, when all are working together towards the same goals.

Chemistry is a fantastic subject to study, if you are prepared to work hard at it the career possibilities are endless.

Joining the college and becoming part of the chemistry team, despite having no background or experience in chemistry prior to working here.

The current research into rare diseases, in particular PURA syndrome, which was first recognised in 2014. The PURA Syndrome Global Epilepsy research project aims to learn how PURA seizures start, spread and stop, with a view to improving the lives of people with this rare disorder. Ongoing work in Denmark and input from scientists, patients and academic institutions around the world is very exciting.

Chemical concepts are integrated into a multitude of everyday process and products. So many things have been made and improved for all life forms (human, animal and beyond).

As they say, 'We are more than the sum of our parts'. By team-working across disciplines and collaborating in teams we can overcome enormous hurdles. There are many examples of this, not least during the pandemic when team-working on many levels helped us make massive strides in technology, medicine, and manufacturing, to name but a few.

Gold.

Chemistry has an important role to play in tackling and resolving modern day global issues, from food shortages to environmental pollution and our current and future energy needs.

Succinctly – it underpins most other scientific disciplines.

When working in the chemical industry, spending too much time away from home. In retrospect I also regret the size of the carbon footprint I've generated. However I realise that my career before teaching has taken me to many places that I would not otherwise have visited.

It needs to be better and more focused on our current global challenges.