My grateful thanks to all of you who came and put on your fascinating demonstrations in 2016 and to the schools for bringing your students, or hosting the event, as well as the students whose degree of participation has steadily increased over the years as the demonstrations have become more engaging.
My particular thanks to the STEM ambassadors whose support has been a great help. Any demonstrators wishing to become STEM AMBASSADORS please let me know.
2016 saw the first indications that, due to the high number of these events in my area and increased national demand, the Royal Society of Chemistry would have to cap our funding. Sadly I therefore had to turn away two schools keen to host a day.
These events are planned a year ahead and in 2017 so far I have avoided cancellations by spreading the RSC funding, approved to date, to cover all the events up to July 2017 and asking schools for a larger contribution.
I have already been contacted by one of last year’s rejected schools still hoping to host the event and if my request for additional alternative funding succeeds, I shall be able to help them and take on more STEM Ambassadors and professional demonstrators who’s cost has been paid until now by the schools’ contribution.
Any schools in Buck, Beds, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire or West London interested in hosting a Chemistry at Work event please contact me.
I look forward hopefully to working with more schools and employers in 2017.
Derek Jones
Events Organiser