Merseyside Young Analysts Competition
Students
challenged over unknown substance!
A team of chemistry students from Birkenhead School are brushing up their analytical techniques for the Finals of the Merseyside Young Analysts Competition.
Birkenhead School has a fine tradition in this contest. Five times North West winners, (twice in the last three years and current title holders), and recently runners-up in the national finals, we have a record to be proud of. So Rob Lane, Greg Young and Jonathan Knapp, all L6 chemistry students, are following a well-trodden path as they step up to meet 40 other teams in this weekend’s regional finals. Each team will be assessed on their ability to work accurately to identify and isolate the components of an unknown substance.
Head of Chemistry Peter Lindberg said: ‘Analysis is a key skill. It requires the careful manipulation of materials and equipment with the need for meticulous observation and recording. Competitions like this are great fun for all involved, and everybody involved will learn something, even if they don’t win. The contest serves as a showcase for School’s excellence in Science education, with students being offered the very best teaching in a well-resourced environment.’
The Competition is held at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Liverpool, and is made possible by generous sponsorship from the Royal Society of Chemistry, and several industrial sponsors including United Utilities Warrington, Thermo Electron Corporation, Hercules, Urenco, Shell UK, Sigma Aldrich and Unilever Research.
For a report on last year’s contest, won by Birkenhead School, visit: www.liv.ac.uk/university/Chemistry/Events/SchoolsEvents/YAC06/Young_Analyst_06.html
