Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) is ready to celebrate the International Year of Chemistry with various activities aimed at involving learners at school and university students and making them aware of the wonderful world of chemistry.
Grade 11 and 12 learners from surrounding schools can look forward to a “Chemistry Spectacular Show” on certain dates during the year; a chemistry quiz as well as a chemistry competition involving the “The Ten Most Important Molecules”.
They will also be invited to public lectures on selected topics during the year. A blog has been set up at http://nmmuchemistry.blogspot.com which contains interesting information about chemistry.
Prof Peter Loyson, International Year of Chemistry coordinator at NMMU, says the idea is to celebrate the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of humankind.
He says four main goals were identified:
- To increase public appreciation of chemistry in meeting world needs,
- To encourage an interest in chemistry among young people,
- To generate enthusiasm for the creative future of chemistry and
- To celebrate the achievements of Marie Curie and the contributions of women to chemistry.
It’s also the centenary of Marie Curie receiving her second Nobel Prize.
“Chemistry plays a very important role in our everyday living and without it we would not have many of the essentials we are accustomed to: medicines and life-saving drugs, safe drinking water, fridges, soaps, fertilizers, metals and steel, pool chemicals, nylon, plastic bags, rubber tyres, paint and the chemical industry, to name just a few,” says Prof Loyson.
University Chemistry students will also be involved in a quiz, a poster competition on certain topics in chemistry, and will be invited to attend public talks and research discussions.
The public lectures will be presented by experts from the NMMU Chemistry Department and will cover interesting topics of chemistry.
The first semester lectures, which are free and open to the public, are as follows:
- 31 March: Chemistry in Ancient Egypt by Prof Peter Loyson
- 18 April: A world of polymers by Mr Fanus Gerber
- 26 May: Cosmetics and chemistry by Dr Nicole Vorster
These lectures will be held from 17.30 – 19.00 in the Goldfields Auditorium on North Campus.
During the second semester public lectures on vehicle batteries and fuel cells, swimming pool chemistry and water purification, chemistry and climate change and Marie Curie will be hosted.
Alan Straton
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