London, December 9 – In celebration of the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements (IYPT2019), 1001 Inventions is partnering with the Royal Society of Chemistry to bring London primary school students four days of fun activities that will draw them closer to the exciting world of chemistry.
Over 1200 primary school students and home-schooled children are attending the event throughout the week, which is hosted at the Royal Society of Chemistry’s historical building at Burlington House. Through experiential learning, “Journeys from Alchemy to Chemistry” aims to spark children’s interest in science and passion for creativity and learning while promoting diversity and intercultural appreciation.
Gemma Woods from the Royal Society of Chemistry said:
The International Year of the Periodic Table is a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate this vital tool, our profession and our communities. We are delighted to be working with 1001 inventions to bring to life the Periodic Table and inspire the next generation of potential chemists.
Students start the journey with a screening of “Journeys from Alchemy to Chemistry” short animated lecture by Professor Jim Al-Khalili, renowned scientist, author and broadcaster. The video introduces children to the fascinating world of science from over one thousand years ago and the lesser-known 8th century pioneer, Jabir ibn Hayyan, also known as Geber, whose contributions helped lay the foundation for modern-day chemistry.
Following this short video, an interactive and immersive theatrical live show brings to life the characters in the film. The approximately 10-minute live show features the characters Jabir ibn Hayyan and Al-Kindi discussing their work and weaving in chemistry demonstrations related to their discoveries.
Students then rotate to different workshop stations where they engage in hands-on activities connected to the themes discussed in the film and live show. Led by a creative team of science explainers, the hands-on workshops include activities such as testing whether common household substances are acids or alkalis and making perfumes and soaps using recipes from the golden age of Arabic Science. Workshops also include activities, such as making goo to illustrate how matter changes states, from solid to liquid and gas as well as demonstrations of burning paper and elephant toothpaste that dazzle students with a bit of mystery and introduce them to chemical reactions.
At the end of the journey, teachers and parents are guided to the website where they could download an ‘Educational Workshops’ guide which includes a variety of themed activities to allow their children to continue their learning journey beyond the event.
Hanan Dowidar from 1001 Inventions said:
We are delighted to partner with the Royal Society of Chemistry to end the 2019 celebrations of the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements with this event in London. “Journeys from Alchemy to Chemistry” educational initiative already reached thousands of children and young people in 2019. We look forward to continuing this global tour helping introduce chemistry and its applications while raising awareness about the contributions to the foundations of modern chemistry by lesser-known pioneers from ancient cultures and civilisations.
“Journeys from Alchemy to Chemistry” global educational initiative was launched at UNESCO HQ in Paris in January 2019 and was then featured at the China Science Festival, All-Russian Science Festival and Berlin Science Week. The initiative will continue IYPT2019 legacy in 2020 and beyond with its global tour in partnership with museums, science centres, festivals, schools, and libraries.
More information on: www.1001inventions.com/chemistry
About The Royal Society of Chemistry
We are an international organisation connecting chemical scientists with each other, with other scientists, and with society as a whole. Founded in 1841 and based in London, UK, we have an international membership of over 50,000.
We use the surplus from our global publishing and knowledge business to give thousands of chemical scientists the support and resources required to make vital advances in chemical knowledge.
We develop, recognise and celebrate professional capabilities, and we bring people together to spark new ideas and new partnerships.
We support teachers to inspire future generations of scientists, and we speak up to influence the people making decisions that affect us all.
We are a catalyst for the chemistry that enriches our world.
About The International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements (IYPT2019)
2019 has been designated by UNESCO as the International Year of the Periodic Table (IYPT), marking the 150th anniversary of the Mendeleev periodic table, which is an iconic image and a vital tool to all who learn and work in science, at all stages of their learning and careers.
IYPT allows us to celebrate our profession, our members and our communities. We want to work with our communities to engage people with both the periodic table and the Royal Society of Chemistry.
We’ve planned lots of exciting and diverse activities throughout 2019, including public lectures, teacher resources, public outreach, grants to our member networks and communities to fund IYPT specific activities for their respective communities, themed journals and books
IYPT is an opportunity for us to develop new resources and raise awareness, to inspire people of all ages, experience and backgrounds.
The Periodic Table of Elements is a great teaching tool and probably the most recognisable thing in chemistry.
About Jabir ibn Hayyan (722 to ca 815)
Jabir ibn Hayyan spent most of his life in Kufa, Iraq, where he devised and perfected sublimation, liquefaction, crystallization, distillation, purification, amalgamation, oxidation, evaporation, and filtration. He developed precise measuring equipment, and discovered sulfuric, nitric, and nitromuriatic acids, all now vitally important in the chemical industry. His research and publications, including the Great Book of Chemical Properties, The Weights and Measures, The Chemical Combination, and The Dyes, opened the way for modern chemistry and guided scientists during the following centuries.
Source: “1001 Inventions: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization” (Reference 4th Edition, Published by FSTC Limited UK, 2017), [Chapter 3, Section 8: Chemistry].
About 1001 Inventions
1001 Inventions is an award-winning, British based organisation that creates international educational campaigns and engaging transmedia productions aiming to raise awareness of the contributions to science, technology and culture from the Golden Age of Muslim Civilisation.
1001 Inventions has engaged with over 450 million people across the globe working with a network of international partners, including UNESCO, National Geographic and leading academics to produce interactive exhibits, short films, live shows, books and classroom learning materials to help spark interest in science, incite inquisitiveness and curiosity while promoting diversity and intercultural appreciation.
