On Monday, the 6^th Form Chemistry pupils travelled to Sherborne for the first symposium of the term.

This year’s Chemistry Symposium series got off to a great start and involved pupils from Clayesmore, King’s Bruton, Leweston, Millfield, Sherborne Boys and Girls Schools. There were some excellent presentations given on a wide variety of cutting edge research topics.

These included:

• The structure, synthesis and uses of methyl cellulose
• Stereoisomers and their use in medicine
• Aerogels
• The Maillard reaction and its uses
• The synthesis and potential uses of carbon nanotubes
• The direct synthesis of methanoic acid from carbon dioxide by hydrogenation in a bid to potentially develop a renewable energy hydrogen carrier.

Congratulations must go to Emily and Harvey for delivering a talk on Forensic Chemistry, more specifically about the developing agents used to visualise fingerprints and on the chemistry involved in presumptive drug testing. Our thanks to Sherborne Girls School for hosting this event.

Sadie Osborne - Head of Chemistry