Chemistry in the 3rd Dimension success
14 February 2020
In just the first year of the project, the Chemistry in the 3rd Dimension team has passed the milestone of 2000 secondary school pupils enrolled in the scheme.
Working as part of the Trio Sci Cymru project, the team has the largest number of schools and pupils across the project, with approximately 2200 Key Stage 3 students from 12 schools.
Chemistry in the 3rd Dimension delivers immersive 3D chemistry workshops based on important themes such as green chemistry and sustainability. Some of the topics the project explores include greenhouse gas capture, plastic pollution and acid rain, with hands-on demonstrations and experimental components within each workshop. A popular workshop presented pupils with the effects human beings are having on the environment and showed them how chemists are at the forefront of efforts to tackle the damage being done.
Having the support of such an enthusiastic team from Cardiff University has helped not only to engage our pupils, but to inspire them to become scientists.
As of January 2020, the Chemistry in the 3rd Dimension project has achieved approximately 6600 interaction hours with three workshops delivered so far. With two more workshops booked in with schools for the spring and summer terms, the aim is to provide a total of 11000 interaction hours by the end of the second year of the project.
Building on the topics discussed over the two years of visits, the final year for the Chemistry in the 3rd Dimension project will culminate with visits to Cardiff University by all pupils enrolled on the programme, where they will experience a day in the lecture theatres and laboratories at the School of Chemistry.
The response to the workshops so far has been overwhelmingly positive. Teachers have commented that their pupils are more engaged and attentive than they’ve ever seen them, with students saying that they ‘never thought chemistry could be this fun or interesting’.
Sophie Dobbs, Head of Science at Ysgol Gyfun Tredegar said: “Ysgol Gyfun Tredegar are so appreciative of the workshops from Trio Sci Cymru. We are currently partway through the 3-year programme, and I can honestly say, our pupils in Year 8 have benefited greatly from the work they've been doing with Cardiff University so far.
“School budgets have been cut year on year and the money we have for enrichment is minimal; this has been detrimental to pupil engagement. Having the support of such an enthusiastic team from Cardiff University has helped not only to engage our pupils, it has inspired them to become scientists.
“The interactive workshops have been particularly beneficial in helping pupils to understand complex ideas, thus having a significant impact on progress. Topics we would have introduced during Year 9 have been introduced in Year 7 and we have seen evidence of younger pupils accepting complex theories much more willingly than our older pupils. I can't thank the team enough for their efforts, I only wish they could do the same for every year group.”
If you would like to book a workshop or find out more about Chemistry in the 3rd Dimension, please contact trioscicymru@cardiff.ac.uk.