Issue 4 // Autumn 2015 bristol.ac.uk/chemistry

THE GREAT LEAP FORWARD HOW SELF-REPAIRING TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED BY BRISTOL CHEMISTS COULD CHANGE THE WORLD

DIAL A : HOW SYNTHESISING A MOLECULE JUST GOT EASIER LIFE IN CHEMISTRY: TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE SCHOOL Welcome Also in this issue… Welcome to the autumn issue of Chemistry Explored. This summer saw us say goodbye to students who graduated in July and headed off to pursue their goals after completing their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees with us. You can read about some of the careers that chemistry News leads to in this edition. 2015 Science Alive 03 As well as celebrating academic Thornbury Festival, latest from Tyntesfield 04 success, we’ve attracted widespread I’m a scientist, get me out of here! 05 media attention. Research carried out Summer in the labs, Fresh ideas for first years 06 into advanced composite materials leading to the development of self- Features healing technology had a huge amount made easy 07 of press coverage, which you can read Generation next 08 more about in this edition. Technology, heal thyself 10 We’ve also welcomed Professor Life in Chemistry 12 Jonathan Clayden who has recently Climbing for charity 14 joined us from Manchester. We’re Infographic 15 delighted that Jonathan has chosen Life through a lens 16 to move to Bristol and there will be a feature about him and his research Production Editor Steve O’Brien Art Editor School of Chemistry Elaine Knight-Roberts Editorial Director Dan group in the next edition. Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK Linstead Group Art Editor Will Slater Account Manager Clair Atkins Tel +44 (0)117 928 8201 As ever, we hope the magazine gives With thanks to Varinder Aggarwal, Thomas Web bris.ac.uk/chemistry Farrugia, Adele Faulkner, Tim Harrison, Dominic you a taste of life here at Bristol. Email [email protected] Palubiski, Selena Power, Jenny Slaughter, David Smith, Duncan Wass, Colin Western, Clare To find out more about our courses and Westlake, George Whitcombe, Isabel Wiltshire programmes, visit: bris.ac.uk/study Freelance Writer & Communications Consultant Aliya Mughal Chemistry Explored is produced in Photography Bhagesh Sachania association with Immediate Media Cover Getty Images Branded Content, Tower House, Unless otherwise indicated, copyright in this publication belongs to Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN the University of Bristol. Views expressed in Chemistry Explored do not necessarily reflect those of the University. The Editor reserves the right to edit Tel +44 (0)117 927 9009 contributions received. While care is taken to ensure accuracy of information, this cannot be guaranteed. Printed in the UK by William Gibbons. Web immediatecontent.co.uk

Professor Nick Norman Head of the School of Chemistry YOUR SAY We want to hear from you! If you’ve anything you want to tell us about your experiences at Bristol University, or if you have any thoughts about Chemistry Explored, then please email us at [email protected].

02 Chemistry Explored // Issue 4 update UPDATE The latest news from the School of Chemistry Bringing science to life

Left: Chemistry’s Director of Outreach and Science Communicator in Residence, Tim Harrison, brings science to China; Above: Some local girls get stuck in at Hong Kong’s SciFest Bristol’s outreach team delivered 26 20-minute Bristol ChemLabS lectures as part of the 2015 Science Alive series The School of Chemistry’s Experimentation and an enthusiasm for Assisting Tim were an able team of Bristol ChemLabS is a UK discovery are some of the hallmarks of Chemistry’s finest, including PhD student Centre for Excellence in good science. The School of Chemistry James Fothergill and Outreach Teaching Teaching and Learning. Since managed to harness both on a record- Assistant Dr Alison Rivett, as well as eight 2005, it has seen a large-scale breaking scale when it involved over first-year undergraduate scientists from refurbishment of Chemistry’s 4,000 people in a public demonstration in the Hong Kong University of Science teaching laboratories and the Hong Kong. and Technology. development of the Dynamic The event, which took place under Professor Nick Norman, Head of the Laboratory Manual (DLM) – a giant pink inflatable canopy in Hong School of Chemistry, said: “This is yet a fully interactive online learning Kong Museum, was led by Tim Harrison, another example of the outstanding work resource which has transformed Chemistry’s globe-trotting Director of of the award-winning outreach team at students’ experience of Outreach and Science Communicator in Bristol. They can be rightly proud of their chemistry as a practical science. Residence. It was part of the 2015 Science achievements and I am certain that all the Alive series of events, hosted during March students who attended will have been as part of Hong Kong’s SciFest, which aims delighted with their experience.” to elevate public interest in the relevance of Science Alive 2015 was sponsored “THIS IS YET science and technology to everyday life. by the British Council, the Hong Kong ANOTHER Over the course of just two days, Leisure and Services Department, Hong Bristol’s outreach team delivered 26 Kong Science Museum, the HKSAR EXAMPLE OF THE 20-minute lectures, featuring Education Bureau, HKedCity and the OUTSTANDING demonstrations on atmospheric chemistry. Croucher Foundation. The lectures were attended by over 3,500 The Bristol team was supported by a WORK OF THE members of the public. On top of that, portfolio of Natural Environment Research AWARD-WINNING 900 young students were given the Council (NERC) grants held by the School chance to take part in a series of practical of Chemistry’s Atmospheric Chemistry OUTREACH TEAM chemistry sessions. Research Group. AT BRISTOL”

Chemistry Explored // Issue 4 03 UPDATE

Science on tour Dinosaurs, drugs and essential oils July’s Thornbury Science Festival was a big success for Bristol Visitors at this year’s Thornbury Science Slaughter and Isabel Wiltshire, who There was also a talk on the scientific Festival got a taste of the eclectic scope of talked about their work with the National fight against cancer courtesy of Chris science at Bristol, thanks to talks hosted Trust, analysing Victorian medicines Paraskeva, Professor of Experimental by our staff and students. discovered at the local Tyntesfield House. Oncology, as well as Science Question The festival, which took place in July, Chemistry’s Dr Natalie Fey gave a Time, a Q&A with Bristol’s Emeritus featured a tour of chemistry through practical demonstration for visitors eager Professor Gareth Williams (Medicine the ages, as delivered by Chemistry’s to try their hands at creating perfume and Dentistry), Professor Dudley Director of Outreach, Tim Harrison, and using plant extracts and essential oils, Shallcross (Chemistry), Dr Annela ChemLabS Teacher Chris Holland. while Earth Science’s researcher Ryan Seddon (Physics) and the University of Also providing a window into the Marek gave a presentation on Bristol’s Bath’s Emeritus Professor Jonathan Slack history of science were Dr Jenny famous Dinosaur Project. (Developmental Biology).

WHEN HISTORY AND CHEMISTRY COLLIDE

Chemistry student Isabel Wiltshire rounds up the latest discoveries from Tyntesfield House, where she and colleagues from the School of Chemistry have been helping to unlock the medicinal mysteries of the Victorian era

I am now a little over halfway how historical research is concoctions, pharmaceutical the cabinet was opened to through a summer vacation done. The research took cures and proprietary the public, which meant that project to analyse the contents me into the workings of medicine, also known as we got to share our findings of a medicine cabinet that Victorian pharmacies, quack secret remedies or nostrums. with visitors. was discovered five years medicine and the many varied I’ve been working with The next stage, ago by the National Trust at ways people used to cure my supervisor, Dr Jenny currently underway with Tyntesfield House. themselves. Slaughter, and Chemistry’s the help of a fellow student I spent the first couple It’s been interesting to Safety Officer, Tony Rodgers, Dominic Palubiski, involves of weeks focused on the learn about the different kinds to sample some of the 100 analysing the contents and historical research, whilst of treatment that used to be bottles that were found. comparing them with trying to get to grips with used – homemade herbal We visited Tyntesfield when modern samples.

04 Chemistry Explored // Issue 4 UPDATE

I’M A SCIENTIST, FROM BRISTOL GET ME OUT OF HERE! TO THE Thomas Farrugia is a PhD student in the School of NETHERLANDS Chemistry and a recent finalist in the University of PhD student Adele Bristol’s Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT). Here Faulkner has been he explains what it takes to be a science communicator awarded a postdoctoral research fellowship by the Leverhulme Trust to spend a year at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Adele started off in John Bower’s research group, developing catalytic methods for the construction of novel and complex molecules. These processes are of particular interest to many chemical industries, which earned her research sponsorship from the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. Adele’s new fellowship will see her developing her research to focus on developing light driven catalysts to facilitate complex chemical transformations.

Test success Dr Colin Western’s work in developing a system to track undergraduate student progress has earned him a University Teaching Award for I enjoy telling people about what school pupils about their research and the Education. I do. There’s something very satisfying experience of doing science. The Marks, Absences and about connecting with an audience of The students vote for their favourite Feedback system (MAF) allows non-scientists. It’s also a great way of speaker until only one scientist is left students to take online tests before condensing key concepts and eliminating standing – who then wins £500 to entering the laboratory, helping the jargon. develop an outreach project. But it’s more them to understand the material and My research involves fabricating and about the actual activity, and the students’ perform experiments safely. It is also testing thin, enzymatically active films questions definitely had me thinking used to collect marks during practical that are composed of proteins that have about why I do my research, which is sessions, assists students with had polymers electrostatically grafted always a good thing. write-ups, and ensures that everyone onto them. involved in lab work – from staff to Over the past year I’ve participated in Watch Thomas’s talk on Protein Power – tutors to students themselves – can Research Tapas (as part of Bristol Bright Using Nature’s Nanoscale Assembly Lines efficiently monitor progress. Night), the FameLabs Bristol Heat, at tinyurl.com/nm4eplk MAF has proved so effective that and 3MT. In each case, the challenge it is now used widely across the is to explain my thesis in under five Would you like to take part in an outreach Science and Medical Faculties. minutes. In June I also took part in ‘I’m activity? Visit Bristol’s Centre for Public a scientist, get me out of here!’, an online Engagement for details: bristol.ac.uk/ programme where scientists chat with public-engagement

Chemistry Explored // IssueIssue1 4 0505 UPDATE SUMMER IN THE LABS The summer wasn’t just about the sun for two Chemistry students…

George Whitcombe, MSci, third year Dominic Palubiski, MSci, third year “The summer presents a recurring challenge of finding “I’m responsible for collating the results used in the teaching something constructive to do. This often means internships, labs. With my Masters project looming closer, I relish this café work or research placements. This year I was employed opportunity to learn about different analytical tools and in the teaching labs to run a series of multicomponent conduct experiments in a quiet lab. reactions to help find the best operating conditions for a “This summer I helped a friend out with her summer new experiment. project which involved testing samples of Victorian medicines “My job was to help synthesise the chemical tert-butyl [you can read more about the work at Tyntesfield on page isocyanide, which meant reading the literature followed by 04]. Preliminary research tells me one of the mixtures has trial and error. The next step will involve testing a large over 50 compounds, so it’s too early to report any results. batch of the substance, my first ever large-scale reaction. However I can say it’s been a very interesting summer.” Overall, an exciting opportunity.”

FRESH IDEAS FOR FIRST YEARS A series of weekly workshops aims to help new students New starters in the School of Chemistry Writing techniques, skills records and undergraduates at an early stage by this year will be among the first to benefit CV preparation will also be taught by exposing them to some of the exciting from a course designed to equip them staff from other parts of the University, research that goes on here.” with the skills to succeed at university including the Centre for English Language Not only will first years learn from and beyond. and the Careers Service. lecturers from multiple disciplines, they ‘Study and Communication Skills Students will also get an insight into will gain the benefit of other students’ in Chemistry’ is a new course that will some of the groundbreaking research experiences via Peer Assisted Study be part of all first-year undergraduate underway in Chemistry, with a series Skills (PASS). This scheme has already degrees from autumn 2015. It will be of ‘showcase lectures’ on subjects proved successful in other parts of the taught in a series of weekly workshops, such as geochemistry and self-healing University and sees second and third giving students hands-on practice in composites. year students working with first years, things like ChemDraw, processing NMR Dr Chris Adams, director of the guiding them through issues related to spectra, and database searching. course, says: “We hope to inspire our their studies and university life in general.

06 Chemistry Explored // Issue 4 INNOVATION MOLECULES MADE EASY Think synthesising a molecule is difficult? Not any more, it seems…

For many synthetic chemists, the ultimate challenge is to develop a comprehensive library of transformational methods and techniques that would allow them to synthesise any molecule from commonly available starting materials with absolute efficiency. This is what’s known as the ‘dial-a- molecule’ concept – where synthesising a molecule is as easy as dialling a telephone number. Professor Varinder Aggarwal FRS and his research team have been making headway, producing chiral carbon chains using methods that resemble the modern automated assembly lines that have revolutionised manufacturing. Nature already uses highly sophisticated methods to synthesise organic molecules. Chemists have applied these approaches to form C-N bonds to produce peptides and P-O bonds to form small pieces of DNA. However, it has not been possible to apply these methods to produce the C-C bonds that form the backbone of organic Will synthesising a molecule one day be as easy as dialling a phone number?

“NATURE ALREADY USES HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED ITERATIVE Marvellous molecules METHODS TO One of the best ways atoms, only the bonds either wedged or dashed to represent the 3D are illustrated. lines according to SYNTHESISE structure of organic Unless indicated, the symmetry. ORGANIC molecules such as every atom represented Don’t be deceived hydroxyphthioceranic is a carbon atom. by the simplicity of MOLECULES” acid is to draw out the Most of these the illustration – the main carbon backbone are tetrahedrally backbone of the molecules - until now. as a zigzag chain, with coordinated. For these molecule is flexible, the Varinder’s methods allow chains the various side groups atoms, two of the bonds diagram only shows the to be built up with the right stereochemical coming off it. Rather lie in the plane. The two structural and spatial relationships, as either linear or than write out every remaining bonds that relationships between helical conformations. atom in full, or illustrate come out of the plane the atoms and not the In one synthesis, his group transformed the many hydrogen are then represented by shape of the molecule. a simple boronic ester into the long chain biologically active molecule, hydroxyphthioceranic acid, which is a key of 16 steps, but just four purifications, of the newly-introduced side groups was component in the cell wall of the bacterium reducing the cost of both the materials and achieved simply by controlling the sequence which causes tuberculosis. resources used. in which the reagents were added. The efficiency of a traditional chemical The target molecule contains 39 carbon As a result, in a joint project with the synthesis drops with each step as product is atoms, 32 in the backbone chain and seven Gates Foundation, the synthesis is now lost with side reactions and in purification. in the side groups. Full control over the being scaled up to explore the possibility of Varinder’s synthesis involved a total growth of the chain and the orientation creating a vaccine for tuberculosis.

Chemistry Explored // Issue 4 07 EMPLOYMENT

Generation next

How lectures and labs are the breeding ground for industry leaders…

ne of the core undergraduate degree, the next opportunity for students to gain requirements for any step is invariably a PhD. But it a wide range of research-based Ojob is experience. This takes more than laboratory skills and transferable skills which will is particularly important for and academic rigour to make it to serve them well for their future academically qualified, ambitious the next step. endeavours. scientists who are keen to use Doing a PhD in Chemistry at As the following stories show, their knowledge to solve some the University of Bristol, whether it’s a route that is helping to launch of the most pressing challenges as a member of one of the many the careers of the next generation facing society and business. For Centres for Doctoral Training or of scientists... those who have climbed the first by following a more traditional rung of the ladder, gaining their route, provides an invaluable

KATIE MASKILL Senior Scientist, AstraZeneca Since completing her PhD last year, Katie has been working at the global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca in Process Chemistry. It was thanks to her time at Bristol that she gained a foot in the door, based on a three-month research project investigating how to use light to form complex drug-like molecules. “I worked in three completely different fields during my initial lab placements so became familiar with a range of techniques and met lots of people. A lot of the activities I took part in during the initial seven- month training period made for great examples in my capabilities interview and came in handy when applying for my current job. I also gained a lot of experience in giving presentations which is still a fairly regular activity for me. “I am really enjoying my job and have already been given lots of responsibility – from interviewing new graduates for future roles Katie Maskill within the company to supervising. In the future I would like to be leading a project. I love being in the lab so I hope to still be doing practical chemistry.”

8 Chemistry Explored // Issue 4 EMPLOYMENT

LIAM BALL Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry, University of Nottingham Liam completed his MSci Chemistry degree before joining the Centre in 2009. After finishing his PhD in 2013, he moved to Edinburgh to work as a Research Assistant. Since July this year, he has been working as an Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry at Nottingham. In 2016, he will get the chance to work in Nottingham’s new Carbon Neutral Laboratories. “There were regular opportunities for public speaking during the training period of my PhD at Bristol, which really helped develop my confidence. Having two PhD supervisors also allowed me to draw on a wealth of experience and advice in planning my career. “The professional network I was able to develop amongst my cohort, the groups I visited on my RBS placement and the affiliated Liam Ball industrialists has become increasingly important, as has the experience I gained in scientific writing, presentation and teaching.”

SIMON CAROBENE Trainee Patent Attorney, Greaves Brewster LLP Simon joined the School of Chemistry in 2009 after graduating from Cardiff University. His PhD research project focused on the total synthesis and determination of the biosynthetic pathway of an antibiotic that is active against the superbug MRSA. Last year, after a brief stint working in contract research, Simon joined Greaves Brewster LLP assisting in patent drafting and prosecution. “The CDT sent us on an Innovation and Enterprise course in the first year, where I met an intellectual property solicitor and learned from an early stage in my PhD that I wanted to become a patent attorney. Later on we were sent on a course at a local patent firm, which allowed me to gain an insight into what a patent attorney does on a day-to-day basis. The wide range of chemistry I was exposed to in the CDT has proved invaluable Simon Carobene in my career so far, as we work with clients in a whole host of different fields from pharmaceuticals to , materials science and biotechnology.”

Chemistry Explored // Issue 4 09 INNOVATION Technology, heal thyself

Technology that fixes itself – it this the future? Professor of Catalysis, Duncan Wass, explains all to Aliya Mughal

elf-repairing aeroplane wings, mobile phones that automatically Sreseal a cracked screen, cycle eventually helmets that self-heal after taking a the cut will knock – is this the stuff of science fiction heal. The challenge or science fact? Reports that scientists we faced was working out had invented a radical new material that how to design chemistry that will might enable some of these technology give similar self-healing functionality to breakthroughs attracted widespread man-made composite structures. media attention earlier this summer. At the heart of the story was three years’ How does your worth of research carried out at the technology work? School of Chemistry. We spoke to the The composite materials lead researcher, Duncan Wass, Professor of we are investigating consist Catalysis, and asked him to explain how it of carbon fibres glued together with a Previous work has demonstrated all began and what it means for the future. cross-linked polymer. We embed tiny the concept of self-healing but used microspheres, a few microns across, into prohibitively expensive ruthenium-based How did the research this material. These microspheres have catalysts that were not robust in real come about? a hard outer shell and a liquid centre applications. We have developed much It came about through a conversation containing an epoxy-based monomer cheaper catalysts based on aluminium with my colleagues in the Department healing agent. We also embed a catalyst that are much more robust and can give of Aerospace Engineering, Professor Ian that acts as a trigger for polymerisation/ 100% recovery of the healed material in Bond and Dr Richard Trask. Carbon hardening of the monomer. When the our tests. fibre-reinforced composite materials are material gets damaged, cracks will rupture now widely used in applications ranging the microspheres and release the monomer, Why all the media interest from aeroplanes to wind turbines to cars which for the first time comes into contact in this now? and sports equipment. They are amazing with the catalyst, causing polymerisation – I gave an interview to the Independent materials, extremely stiff but very light. literally gluing the cracks back together. on Sunday prior to presenting our work But they do have some problems in that at a Royal Society conference. They if they are damaged, it can be difficult to This sounds like quite a radical ran with the story on their front page, detect and repair that damage compared step forward in science. Is it as leading to further interviews on radio and to conventional materials. We took our innovative as it sounds? TV, and further articles in the national and inspiration from the human body – for Healing technologies for all sorts of local press. instance, if we cut our finger, then we materials, from polymers to composites have evolved mechanisms so that to concrete, is a growing area of research. Are you surprised at the level of interest? It’s clearly a research project that has struck a chord with the general public. I think “HEALING TECHNOLOGIES FOR ALL SORTS OF that’s because everyone can appreciate the problem we are trying to solve. MATERIALS, FROM POLYMERS TO COMPOSITES TO It’s also been interesting - and frustrating CONCRETE, IS A GROWING AREA OF RESEARCH” – how these stories can get a life of their

10 Chemistry Explored // Issue 4 INNOVATION

Vein and gain

The self-healing technology works Technology, heal thyself in a similar way to the biological process of blood clotting. The chemical compound created by Bristol scientists involves adding tiny, hollow microspheres to carbon fibre composite materials such as those used to make aeroplane wings and cycle helmets. When damage occurs to the carbon material, these microspheres break and release a liquid healing agent, which seeps into the cracks. The liquid then reacts with an in-built catalyst that triggers a which causes the liquid to harden and seal the cracks.

own! On the whole, the science has been accurately reported but the possible applications can get over-hyped. That said, it’s reassuring that the public do have an appetite for stories about science.

So can we expect to see self-healing aeroplanes any time soon? That is some way off, not least because of the stringent safety aspects in aerospace applications. But in other areas, especially more consumer goods such as bicycle frames or helmets, we could be seeing this come to market in the next few years.

Chemistry Explored // Issue 4 11 ADMISSIONS

Life in Chemistry The School of Chemistry has long been a place of discovery, innovation and experimentation, nurturing the ambitions of thousands of students and researchers over the years. Here, Professorial Teaching Fellow and Deputy Head of School David Smith takes a virtual tour…

Lectures with a difference and listen in lectures, while others like course develops, tutorials are taken by As a lecturer, there is something rather to take comprehensive notes. Starting a subject expert. special about lecturing to an audience of this academic year, all of our lectures In subsequent years, tutorials are over 200 keen and excited new students will be recorded and published online replaced by workshops run by several who represent some of the very best automatically. The idea is that students members of staff working together – chemists of their generation. can replay lectures in their own time, one lecturer may help a group unpick a There are four lecture theatres in revisiting difficult concepts until they fully challenging subject, while another works the School and most first years will understand without fear of falling behind. with students who want to extend their grow familiar with Lecture Theatre 1, understanding. where a periodic table donated by the Here to help Royal Society of Chemistry forms At university, asking questions is Lab rats the backdrop to demonstrations considered a strength, not a weakness. We are very proud of our undergraduate and presentations. First-year tutorials give students a chance practical laboratories – they’ve been As academics, we take pride in to get to know their personal tutors equipped to a research-grade standard, guiding students through their degrees and discuss ideas in groups of up to five giving our students the best training. in a way that suits people’s different students. In the second term, pairs of Practicals are supported by our learning styles. Some students like to sit groups are combined to ensure that, as the Dynamic Laboratory Manual, an online

12 Chemistry Explored // Issue 4 ADMISSIONS

resource of background material, video and much more – they work hard and understanding and skills in their career. interactive simulations that help students to play hard! For these students, their research project prepare before they enter the lab. We have a superb library, with good takes half of their final year. The DLM also means that long write- stocks of essential course books and more The focus for students on our bachelors’ ups are a thing of the past and instead, our specialised research texts. However, we programmes is often in developing focus is on helping students reach a much aim to challenge our students and having transferable skills that employers in all higher level of understanding. As a result, places to work with friends is just as sectors, including those outside chemistry, we can assess them while they perform important as having quiet study space. value so highly. Some bachelors’ students experiments and help them review their choose to work on conventional chemistry results. Not only is this more efficient, it’s Research research projects, but others opt to work more enjoyable for staff and students. For many students, the final-year project is on more innovative projects. the highlight of their studies. The projects Our education projects, in which Social science for students on four-year MSci and three- students work in local primary and Studying chemistry is a social as well year BSc programmes are rather different. secondary schools, are especially as an academic experience. We have a Our integrated masters programmes popular because they help students to world-class reputation for our research and are intended for students who want to develop superb communication and teaching, but our students contribute so go on to use their chemical knowledge, organisational skills.

Chemistry Explored // Issue 4 13 INSIDE VIEW Climbing for charity What was the thing that Student Undergraduate Administrator Selena Power feared more than climbing the 5,895m high Mount Kilimanjaro? Steve O’Brien finds out…

t’s not often I’ve found myself sitting Have you ever thought about climbing opposite someone who’s climbed one of Mount Kilimanjaro, they asked her. Ithe world’s tallest mountains. Standing “I didn’t even know where it was,” she at a whopping 5,895m high, Africa’s laughs. “When I got home, I Googled it Mount Kilimanjaro is a challenge to test and realised, ‘I’m going to Africa!’” even the bravest adventurer, let alone a And so, in September 2013, Selena first-time climber with a fierce hatred of conquered Africa’s highest mountain and tents. But, two years on, Selena Power raised nearly £8,000 for the charity. climbing all day, I didn’t mind that, but I’d is surprisingly blasé about her visit to “It took four-and-a-half days to get up, be starting to feel almost sick knowing that Tanzania’s most famous wonder. “For me, and one-and-a-half days to get down,” we were going to be stopping to pitch up the camping was worse than the walking,” she says. “It was incredibly tough. More the tent!” she laughs. “Anyone who knows me knows so mentally than physically. But as I said, And Selena has obviously caught the I don’t do camping. Ever!” fundraising bug. Immediately It’s a glorious, sun-dappled July day after Kilimanjaro she signed up for and I’m meeting Selena, who works even more walks and climbs, and is due as the School of Chemistry’s Student “I DIDN’T next year to hike “85 miles in just over 24 Undergraduate Administrator, for a coffee EVEN KNOW hours” for the Isle of Wight Challenge. and a nibble in the Hawthorns. She’s While that would make most of us baulk, been at the University for over 25 years WHERE MOUNT she remains impressively laid-back about now, joining Chemistry in 2010. It was KILIMANJARO WAS. the whole thing. “It’s just walking,” she during her time here that her husband, shrugs. “How hard can that be?!” Rob, was diagnosed with a terminal brain WHEN I GOT HOME, tumour. Selena was helped through his I GOOGLED IT AND illness by the charity Hammer Out, and in If you would like to donate money towards appreciation, she volunteered to do some REALISED, ‘I’M Selena’s Isle of Wight Challenge, go to: fundraising for them. GOING TO AFRICA!’” justgiving.com/Selena-Power3

14 Chemistry Explored // Issue 4 CHEMISTRY in numbers Vital statistics for the School’s 2014-15 academic year

91% are home students from 680 the UK and undergraduate students, Continental equivalent to Europe and

are from 4.13% outside 9% Europe of the total in the University 676 hours of lectures 474 workshops for second and third-year students in inorganic, organic, physical, analytical, 202 computational and environmental chemistry

postgraduate research students, equivalent to 873 hours of 867 practical 8.68% sessions of the total in the University

tutorials for first-year students

Chemistry Explored // Issue 4 15 Life through a lens Chem@rt is a University of Bristol initiative that brings chemistry into the classroom and stimulates literacy and creativity. Here are a small selection of the stunning images created by our scientists…

Light Source by Ben Mills This photograph shows the sun setting behind Cabot Tower, with the Synthetic Chemistry Building in the foreground. The sun is a star and (almost) the ultimate origin of the matter and energy we use to make new substances in the School of Chemistry. It’s like seeing the entire process from Big Bang to finished product in one shot.

Curly Conducting Confetti by the Faul Research A Rainbow Revealed by the Faul Research Group: A polarised light microscope picture of a liquid Group: As polarised light shines through this liquid crystal. The molecules spontaneously ‘self-assemble’ crystal under the microscope it is twisted and turned. into an organised structure without any outside influence. The molecules have arranged themselves into an organised The arrangement they form changes according to their structure, but different parts of the sample are orientated in chemical structure and composition. different directions.

YOUR SAY If you’ve anything you want to tell us about your experiences at Bristol University, or if you have any thoughts about Chemistry Explored, then please email us at [email protected].