Synthesis Art and Chemistry Summer School

Synthesis Art and Chemistry Summer School 8-10 July 08

Synthesis: Art and Chemistry Summer School 8 – 10 July 2008

The Synthesis summer school is a collaborative event, combining academics from across London HEIs. Prof Tom Welton kicked off the summer school with an introduction about his research link between Imperial College and the V&A and hence illustrating how art and chemistry can combine.

Silicone fish, body art inspired by carbon allotropes, pneumatic structures and new friends were among some of the experiences shared by the 60 Yr 9 students from Aimhigher London Schools who took part in this year’s summer school held at Imperial College.

Chemistry: The Next Generation, in collaboration with University of the Arts London, Young @ Art, Imperial College (both the Chemistry Department and Imperial Outreach)  and University College London students enjoyed three days of hands on workshops, challenges, a demonstration lecture and plenty of fun activities, successfully illustrating the artistic side of chemistry.

Alethea Tabor (UCL), Jacqueline Cullen and Rebecca Chitty (UAL) delivered a building molecules workshop exploring repeating units in three-dimensional space from both chemistry and visual arts standpoints.

The silicone workshop was delivered by Dan Martin (UAL) and Dora Tang (IC), this saw students experimenting with thermochromic pigments and silicones, and building on a scientific understanding of these materials they were assigned problem solving tasks in their teams to achieve a finished 3d puzzle.

One of the highlights for everyone was Prof David Phillips’ demonstration lecture ‘Braving the Elements’, all the students were amazed at how colourful and fun chemistry can be.

Along side the student event we ran one day workshops for science and art teachers on cosmetic science (Gabriela Daniels, London College of Fashion) and life-casting (Paul Carey, Wimbledon College).”Many thanks for a thoroughly enjoyable workshop, I can honestly say it was the best one I have attended in my teaching career.” Peter McKenna La Sainte Union

The whole event concluded with a fantastic exhibition, including a catwalk show of the students’ original body art. This was attended by parents, teachers and all those involved over the course of the three days.

"Nothing could be improved everything was 1st class"

“The course was amazing! When everyone arrived we were all put into mentor groups who didn’t know each other and I was a bit nervous, but now I have made friends for life!”

"Everybody had the chance to take part and I enjoyed it"