CBA Supports International Year of Chemistry
4 May 2011
The Chemical Business Association (CBA) today unveiled two of its contributions to the UN-designated International Year of Chemistry, 2011. CBA announced the winner of its first-ever School Award for outstanding achievement in early years’ science teaching and the long running primary school education initiative, Chemistry with Cabbage, received a major boost through a collection made at the CBA Annual Lunch on 4 May at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London.
CBA School Awards
CBA’s one-off School Awards aimed to celebrate excellence in early years’ science teaching by primary schools. CBA member companies were asked to nominate schools that had made contributions to science teaching beyond the requirements of the curriculum. Factors taken into account included: innovative teaching methods; the use of external speakers; industry visits; and whether the school has an out-of-hours Science Club.
The winner and runner-up of the CBA School Award received cash prizes – of £1,000 and £200 - donated by CBA member companies to be spent on science teaching. They both also receive a Chemistry with Cabbage workshop (see below) funded by CBA members.
Announcing the School Award to more than 1,100 industry representatives and their guests at the CBA Annual Lunch, the Association’s Chairman Neville Prior, said, “Unlike many of these internationally-designated years, the International Year of Chemistry is an event which resonates throughout our industry. Apart from earning a living from the products and processes of chemistry, there is also a wider issue which the International Year may in some way help to resolve. By focusing on some of the major benefits to society that chemistry provides – we may, at last, begin to take politics out of science.
The CBA School Award was won by Furzedown Primary School, Wandsworth, London, which has established a range of innovative and imaginative approaches to early years’ science teaching that have been reflected by its pupils developing a genuine interest and fascination for science. The Award was accepted on behalf of the school by its science co-ordinator, Nick Dutton.
The runner-up was St Mary’s C of E Primary School, Swanley, Kent.
Chemistry with Cabbage
Both the winning school and the runner-up will also receive a Chemistry with Cabbage workshop as part of their prize.
Chemistry with Cabbage provides one-day hands-on workshops for 3,000 primary school pupils (Year 6) every year. Using ordinary household chemicals, the workshops aim to stimulate a lasting interest in science. Chemistry with Cabbage is sponsored by a number of CBA member companies and, in 2005, won the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Education Award.
In addition, Chemistry with Cabbage was the recipient of the traditional collection taken up at CBA’s Annual Lunch. The collection raised more than £8,000 – a record total - which will be used to offer more workshops to primary schools during the coming months.
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Further information from: Peter Newport, Director, CBA 01270 258200 www.chemical.org.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
(1) Each year CBA members distribute more than 2.2 million tonnes of chemicals with a market value of almost three billion euros. CBA members, the majority of which are SMEs, are the key industry interface with thousands of UK downstream chemical users.
(2) Presentation photographs are available (in digital jpeg format) of the winning school accepting the Award by contacting the CBA office on 01270 258200.
(3) The driving force behind Chemistry with Cabbage is Lorelly Wilson. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, a Chartered Chemist, and a Chartered Scientist. She plays an active role in science education and is a member of several official bodies focusing on the Public Understanding of Science. She is an Honorary Fellow of Manchester University and is Chair of Governors at a local secondary school.
(4) The CBA member companies that have played a long-term role in sponsoring Chemistry with Cabbage are: Alcohols Limited, Norkem Limited, Multisol Group, Lake Chemicals, Pearl Chemicals, Stort Chemicals, and Univar Limited.
