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Experiments provide a winning formula

Young scientists from a range of regional colleges visited º£½ÇÖ±²¥ to put their problem solving skills to the test.

The pupils were invited to take part in the North East Region heat of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Schools’ Analyst Competition. They were given the task of solving a scenario in which a fictional character was taken ill at work and the students had to determine the cause of his illness.

Under supervision from experts at º£½ÇÖ±²¥, they carried out tests and experiments to find out if the illness was a result of copper poisoning, aluminium poisoning, or an allergic reaction to paracetamol.

The winning team was Richmond School from North Yorkshire, with º£½ÇÖ±²¥ High in Eaglescliffe and Prior Pursgrove School from Hartlepool coming in second and third respectively.

Richmond School will now be in with a chance of competing in the national final, taking place later this year.

Joe McGinnis, Senior Lecturer in º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s School of Science & Engineering, said: 'This is an annual competition and provides a great opportunity for young people to come to the university and use technology and equipment that they would not ordinarily have access to.

'The experiments they have been carrying out are quite advanced and it is a good way to get them enthused about science and chemistry.

'We’ve seen an extremely positive reaction from the students and the event was very well-received.'