MP Launches exciting new science resource

Science lessons in primary schools are set to become more exciting thanks to the launch of a new teaching resource put together by the Royal Society of Chemistry North West Trust, Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and a company called “Chemistry with Cabbage”. The DVD, launched yesterday by Andrew Miller MP, Chair of the Parliamentary Science and Technology Select Committee has been produced following requests from primary school teachers for fun and informative science experiments that can easily be recreated in the classroom.

Speaking at the event Andrew Miller MP said “The science sector has employed many people in this country and will continue to employ many more if the future workforce have the right skill sets. As a society we need to encourage more pupils to take an interest in science and engaging them at primary school level with projects like this will really help. I have been hugely impressed with the RSC on this project and I would urge companies to commit to places like Catalyst to help give children a chance to experience science outside the classroom. I am delighted to formally launch the DVD today and I look forward to seeing this being distributed around the country”.

Dr David Karsa, Chair of the RSC NW Trust who funded this project said “Since the RSC NW Trust was formed in 1995 it has provided over £100k for chemistry projects across the region. With 2011 designated as the International Year of Chemistry the NW Trust decided to embark on a major project  to stimulate children’s interest in science and the idea of the DVD was born.”

Local primary school teachers and members of the RSC were invited to attend the event where they tried their hand at some of the experiments and collected their free DVD at the same time. For teachers who could not attend the event but would still like a copy of the DVD then orders can be placed by following the link on the Catalyst Website www.catalyst.org.uk

The RSC NW Trust has distributed copies of the DVD to primary schools throughout the North West, including schools in Cheshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, Lancaster, Manchester and North Wales.

You can find out more about Catalyst by visiting the website at www.catalyst.org.uk