02.12.2004
At a time of concern over the closure of chemistry departments in some universities, a lecturer at the University of Brighton has come up with a fun way to get young children excited about science in general and chemistry in particular.
Dr Hal Sosabowski of the university's School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences and Rob Piatt, a former member of the university staff, devised the Chemistry Trumps game to spark off children's interest in science and encourage them to find out more.
Dr Sosabowski said: "The game aims to get children fired up about chemistry and encourage learning about the chemical elements through play. The game cards are designed to provide information but also stimulate the players' own research."
Chemistry
Trumps is the first of a planned series of 'stax-o-facts' on various aspects
of science. It will be launched at the university's Christmas Lecture and
Chemistry Magic Show for local school pupils to be held on 8 December at the
Moulsecoomb campus. This popular annual event, now in its fifth year, is another
demonstration of the university's drive to stimulate children's interest in
science.
Presented by Dr Sosabowski and John Luton of Varndean College the event, which is supported by the Royal Society of Chemistry's (RSC) Downland Section Trust, explodes into life with a short lecture, followed by a chemistry demonstration featuring delights such as the hydrogen rocket, chemiluminescent rainbow, paramagnetism in liquid oxygen and burning money.
Three hundred local school pupils will attend the show which, due to overwhelming demand this year, will be repeated on 9 December.
The RSC's Downland Section Trust has bought 2000 packs of the Chemistry Trumps game so all the children attending the Chemistry Magic Show will receive a free pack.
Chemistry Trumps has been developed from a game which won the University of Brighton Innovation Award 2003. Over the past year Hal Sosabowski and Rob Piatt have worked with the University of Brighton's Business Services staff to bring the product to market.
For further information or to attend the Christmas lecture and chemistry magic show please email Dr Hal Sosabowski m.h.sosabowski@brighton.ac.uk
See www.stax-o-facts.com for further details on the Chemistry Trumps game.
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
