Brainiac chemistry lesson for pupils at The Cheltenham Ladies' College

A Chemistry conference hosted by The Cheltenham Ladies' College has been hailed as a great success.

Hundreds of youngsters were treated to a range of exciting experiments by leading academics and a television personality.

The aim of the day was to give pupils an opportunity to see different applications of the science in everyday life and experience chemicals that are normally only encountered during university studies.

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Dr David Gamblin, Head of Chemistry at the College, said: "The day was a great success with pupils coming together to see real life applications of chemistry.

"Pupils will never forget the chemical defence mechanisms of the Bombardier Beetle, how to create smoke without fire, the use of chemistry to stop you chewing your nails and how you can use liquid nitrogen to convert a banana into a hammer.

"The conference gave pupils a rare and unique opportunity to interact with the country's best chemical demonstrators and enabled them to see a more dramatic side of the subject."

Keynote speakers at the conference included Dr John Kilcoyne from the University of Sunderland, who presented his famous chemical road show.

Chemistry for the Terrified, showed many of the ideas from his TV role in Brainiac where he plays 'the man in the shed'.

Lectures were also given by Tim Harrison and Marisol Correa Ascencio, from the University of Bristol's ChemLabs.

They spoke on topics including fragrances, the biology behind smell, and 'Pulque, the Mesoamerican elixir of life.

College girls were joined by their peers from The Crypt School, Cheltenham College, The King's School Gloucester, Rednock School, Millbrook Academy, Cheltenham College, BGS and Jodie Harris.