An event at the House of Commons recognised the students who achieved the highest marks in the first Cambridge Chemistry Challenge.
More than 3000 students in 250 schools across the country took part, and the best performers were presented with their ‘Chemistry Challenge’ awards at a reception at the House of Commons in November by Cambridge MP – and Cambridge Chemistry alumnus – Julian Huppert.
The internet-based challenge was the brainchild of Peter Wothers, and was open to anyone of any age from anywhere in the world. It was designed to stretch students’ science knowledge, providing puzzles that made them think.
When the monthly online competition finished at the end of June, Year 12 students in the UK who had done well in the challenge sat a written exam, set by teachers and university chemists.
Peter was really pleased the competition was such a success. ‘It’s fantastic to see it strike a chord with so many students,’ he says. ‘At school, students are taught the facts, but here they have to apply knowledge of other subjects and think creatively – these are exactly the kind of skills that are needed for university. It’s therefore useful for students wanting to go on to study chemistry at undergraduate level because it gives them that competitive edge.
As well as support from the department, the challenge had the backing of University of Cambridge International Examinations (UCIE), and OCR, Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations.
The challenge was such a success that it’s going to be back in 2012. The first online challenge will be available at a minute past midnight on Sunday 1 January – go to www.C3L6.org to find out more.
Pictured (l-r) are Julian Huppert and Peter Wothers, with Alexander Moore and Andrew Wolters from Winchester College