Chemistry Admissions February 2012 NEWSLETTER 2012 League Tables We achieved an overall score of 90.3% (ranked 7th) for Chemistry in the Times A flavour of success Good University Guide 2012. The league We hope this newsletter will give you table bases its rankings on student a flavour of some varied highlights in satisfaction, research quality and what has been a highly successful graduate prospects and it highlighted year for Chemistry@York. the excellent performance of The Department of Chemistry in various Our achievements include the award areas including student satisfaction of a number of high profile research and entry standards. The Guide notes: Artist impression of new student accommodation at grants in areas including atmospheric, Langwith college on the Heslington East campus. materials and biological chemistry. We Teaching Laboratory and Green Chemistry The University has done well in the are also proud of the numerous Chemistry Centre, providing world-class laboratory National Student Survey. York has staff and students, who have been awarded facilities for our students and researchers. finished in the top 30 universities prestigious prizes, and for the significant in all six years of polling. Archaeology, academic achievements of our students Outside of Chemistry, the University is making biology, chemistry, molecular biology, – for example, last year, over 84% of our rapid progress in expanding Heslington East, biophysics and biochemistry, and physical MChem students achieved a first or upper with a new college and sports village geography and environmental science second class Honours. scheduled for completion in July 2012, all produced particularly high levels and the £20 million refurbishment of the of satisfaction in the 2010 result. The results of the latest National Student university library (on Heslington West) will For 2012, the Department of Chemistry Survey, (NSS) showing student satisfaction also be complete this year. The refurbished at York consistently features in the levels of 99%, confirm that York is one of library will offer a range of 21st-century top-seven across a number of other the very best places to study Chemistry. technology and media-rich learning, league tables including The Independent Indeed, admissions to Chemistry@York is teaching and research environments. Complete University Guide 2012, buoyant and our 2011 entrants achieved The Guardian University Guide 2012 a record high average tariff score Chemistry@York is an and Times Good University Guide 2012. (equating to A-level grades of AAA). exciting and dynamic place in which to work Our new building programme is well and study. Come and advanced, with the second phase of the see for yourself! Second Place Dorothy Hodgkin Research Building due for in the NSS completion in May. This will be followed by Professor Richard Taylor, construction of an exciting new spacious Head of Department In the 2011 National Student Survey (NSS), the Department of Chemistry confirmed itself as one of the very best places in the UK to study Chemistry. Overall student New Chemistry buildings satisfaction levels of 99% demonstrate The University has initiated a £16.5 million phased redevelopment of the Department a massive vote of confidence from our of Chemistry. New state-of-the-art facilities are being provided for both research and students. With a 91% average satisfaction undergraduate laboratories. The first stage of this exciting development involves the score across all questions on the survey, completion of the Dorothy Hodgkin Research Building at a cost of £6.5 million, providing York was one of only five departments to additional accommodation for about 100 researchers. Following completion on this building break the 90% barrier – well above the in May 2012, in a second development, a new two-storey building will be constructed. average score for Chemistry departments On the ground floor, state-of-the-art teaching laboratories will provide outstanding of just 83%. Students indicated high levels professional-standard training facilities for the scientists of tomorrow. On the upper floor, of satisfaction in all areas of the survey, the building will house our Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence, a world leading and in particular ranked York in the top 5 research centre which aims to promote the development and implementation of green UK departments for teaching quality, and sustainable chemistry and related technologies into new products and processes. academic support and the quality of assessment and feedback. Combined with data from the Research Assessment which indicated that 75% of all research in the department was internationally excellent, the third best result, the NSS helps confirm York as one of the elite UK Chemistry departments. Chemistry Admissions Feb 2012 The Launch of Chemistry@York Chemistry Awards Bulletin Board Ewald Prize Students applying for an undergraduate Professor Eleanor Dodson shared the ninth Chemistry programme for entry in 2012 Ewald Prize for the enormous impact made or 2013 now have access from point of in the area of structural crystallography. application, to a new, distinctive VLE site Invaluable contributions to the computational called ‘Chemistry@York’. side of the field mean that daily, all over the world, thousands of crystallographers are Prospective students access the site via profiting from their excellent achievements. a username and password. The site has been developed specifically to form an early engagement with students during Vice Chancellors Awards the crucial decision-making ‘1–in–5’ stage The following VC awards were awarded to and provides a unique insight into life Supervisor of the Year the department last year: as a Chemistry student at York. The site A “Supervisor of the Year Award” from ¬ The Athena SWAN team in Chemistry addresses four key areas: the Students Union was awarded a Gold Award for (YUSU) was awarded to Dr Avtar Outstanding Achievement in the ¬ Application Information Matharu in 2011 and presented at a Inclusivity Category ¬ Our Courses special ceremony by the Deputy Vice ¬ The Green Chemistry team were ¬ Careers and Employability Chancellor, Professor Trevor Sheldon. awarded a Gold Award for Outstanding ¬ Featured Items In total, our students nominated seven Achievement in the Sustainability Category Chemistry supervisors for the award. ¬ Professor Simon Duckett (Chemistry) and Professor Gary Green (Psychology) were awarded a Gold Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Analytical Prize Excellence Category Katie Barnes A York Undergraduate Chemist ¬ The Chemistry Undergraduate won the Royal Society of Chemistry Analytical Admissions Team were awarded Prize for 2011 for her significant achievements a Silver Award for Outstanding in the area of analytical Chemistry. Achievement in the Excellence Category

Royal Society Honour Eliahou Dangoor Sponsorships Professor John Goodby who specialises We are proud to announce that four of our in research into liquid crystals, has been first year Chemistry undergraduates have elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, one of each been awarded one of the prestigious the world’s top scientific honours. Professor Eliahou Dangoor sponsorships. The Goodby’s research focuses on the use of sponsorships were created by Dr Naim liquid crystals in a range of high technology Dangoor to give talented students the applications, including large area flat panel opportunity to study science, technology, For example, under Our Courses there is displays, microdisplays, sensors, imaging engineering and mathematics subjects at detailed information on our diverse and devices, biomedical materials, surface leading universities in the UK, including York. innovative range of teaching methods coatings, and smart adhesives. Last year, and small group college-based teaching. Fellowships were also awarded to We have also included a typical student Professors Robin Perutz and . week and 5 videos along with lab scripts, Departmental quotes from current students on each of Vacation Bursaries the four main themes and screencasts Wellcome Trust Fellow Last year the Department initiated a new for our explaining how our tutorials and Professor Sir John Holman scheme that offers up to 10 bursaries workshops support our students appointed Senior Fellow in Educationhas been at undergraduate Chemistry students per year, throughout each year of their studies. the Wellcome Trust, to advise the Trust to undertake an 8–10 week research project on education policy and strategy. over the summer vacation. The scheme is open to students who have completed their first or second year of studies, and it offers them the opportunity to work in a research RSC Environmentreceived Prize the Royal group of an academic member of staff of Professor James Clark their choice. As well as the opportunity to Society of Chemistry’s Environment Prize last further develop their practical skills, our year. Professor Clark views waste as future students learn more about a specific area feedstock – he is interested in making of modern Chemistry, and receive £100 chemicals, fuels and materials from chemical, per week. Projects from last year included food and other wastes, solving both the “Doing a lot in one-pot: a radical approach problems of increasing waste and decreasing to shogaol and related ketones”, “Stay cool: A still from our ‘typical week’ video resources. The award recognises Professor enhancing coolants using additives with Clark’s “fundamental and applied research phase transitions” and “Novel degradable The creation of the site has been fully contributions to green chemistry, clean polymers for gene delivery”. These funded by the University’s Strategic technology and sustainability”, and “his placements are of particular interest to our Teaching and Learning Fund and it is educational, publishing and public awareness students considering a career in research, for envisaged that it will be an example of contributions in the green chemistry area”. good practice for other York academic example, those contemplating a PhD degree. departments. www.york.ac.uk/Chemistry Chemistry@York February 2012 Graduates and Employability

Our Chemistry degree courses are designed to give our students a thorough grounding in all ‘Battle of the aspects of modern Chemistry and a qualification from the University of York is highly respected by employers. For example, our 2011 Chemistry graduates are going on to Profs’ Event a wide range of careers, including: ¬ Studying for a PhD degree (at York and elsewhere) in topics ranging from biological The second annual ‘Battle of the Profs’ chemistry, NMR spectroscopy, atmospheric chemistry, surface chemistry, polymers & colloids, event for new first year Chemistry organic synthesis and drug discovery & design – for example, one of our students will be undergraduates was held in the studying for a PhD at the University of Helsinki, after completing a year at this university Department on Wednesday 19 October. as part of our MChem Year Abroad programme Professor Dave Smith and Dr Jason ¬ Working in the chemical industry, in areas including chemical analysis and drug Lynam gave a series of excellent discovery – indeed, some of our MChem Year in Industry students have accepted job offers demonstrations and presentations, in to continue working at their placement company (in companies including Johnson Matthey front of a packed audience in our main and Unilever) lecture theatre. They competed against ¬ Studying for a PGCE to gain Qualified Teacher Status and enter the teaching profession one another for a stunning labcoat ¬ Various non-scientific careers including finance, commerce, media and politics – for inspired prize. Our student-run Chemical example, Chris Maughan has become Blackpool Borough Council’s youngest ever councillor. Society, ChemSoc, played a key part in helping to organise and plan the event. Our Chemistry students have an excellent record Dr Seishi Shimizu acted as the judge, of achievement and for our 2011 graduates, complete with black cloak, white neck 70% achieved a first (1st) or upper second band and hammer, and it was a fantastic class (2:1) Honours degree and, of these, evening of entertainment. 84% of our MChem students achieved a first or upper second class Honours. “All of the virtues of the department came shining For 2012, a new Chemistry careers through – great teaching, great website has been constructed, with research, camaraderie, approachability, topics such as ‘CVs, interviews and enthusiasm and a love of Chemistry.” applications’ and ‘interested in further Professor Richard Taylor, study’. Also included is information on an Head of Department Employability Tutorial, created by the university, to help our students think about what they might want to do when you finish their degree and articulate their own “employability plan”. Admissions Team – THES nomination Teaching Initiatives and Staff Student Consultative Committee (SSCC) Our students challenged academic staff to draw benzene Our students play an important role in rings, against the clock, whilst closing their eyes! helping us to evolve and improve our courses and the SSCC has played a 250th Anniversary of Chemist particularly important and active role. Examples of recent initiatives prompted The Department of Chemistry has by the SSCC include: celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Members of the Chemistry Admissions team ¬ The introduction of new infrared heaters birth of Selby scientist Smithson Tennant including Dr Andrew Parsons, Katrina Sayer, in teaching laboratories with a series of public events. Smithson Dr Annie Hodgson, Dr Barry Thomas, and ¬ At twice-termly supervisory meetings, Tennant discovered the elements of undergraduate student Mary Wheldon, along personal supervisors now have a check osmium and iridium and was known for with Professor Taylor and Dr Helen Coombs, list of topics to discuss – from careers his ability to enthuse his audiences to attended the 2011 Times Higher Education advice to selection of option courses study science. He was holder of the 1703 Leadership & Management Awards ¬ Additional textbooks have been Chair of Chemistry at the University of (THELMA) at a glittering ceremony at the purchased and added to the main Cambridge, a Fellow of the Royal Society Grosvenor House Hotel on Thursday 16 June. university library, including Year 1 and 2 and winner of the David Duncan, Registrar at the University texts that support core lecture courses Royal Society Copley of York attended the event and said: ¬ Refurbishment of the area outside our Medal. main lecture theatre to create a small “The shortlisting of the Chemistry social area (pictured below). The North Yorkshire Admissions Team for a THELMA scientist’s legacy to science was was richly deserved. Chemistry celebrated with two major public goes to enormous efforts to make lectures organised by the Department students feel they belong to the of Chemistry and David Lewis, a Selby Department, and that progress begins historian and former York chemist. long before they arrive in York. The The celebrations took place as part Admissions team has a key role to play, of the International Year of Chemistry and is miles ahead of its competitors and were designed to mark Smithson in other universities”. Tennant’s birth on 30 November 1761. www.york.ac.uk/Chemistry Chemistry@York February 2012

Putting in your tank sunshine Scientists from the University of York are part of a team working on how to use the energy of the Sun to make fuels, which could help to solve the ‘Star Wars’ laser experiment world’s escalating energy crisis. Together with improves understanding of researchers from the Universities of Manchester, Earth’s atmosphereYork chemists are part of East Anglia (UEA), and Nottingham, they are an international research working to harness the vast energy of the Sun team exploring novel to produce clean fuel, using nanotechnology ‘Star Wars’ techniques to 100,000 times smaller than the thickness of improve our understanding a human hair. The scientists presented their of the Earth’s atmosphere research at the Royal Society’s annual Summer Science Exhibition which opens on 5 July. (ESA) and led by and of global change. As part of a project funded by the European Space Agency “This technology could revolutionise the University of York’s Department of Chemistry, our energy usage in the coming researchers recently took part in a two-week decades” Professor Robin Perutz experiment designed to test the feasibility of using new techniques on future space missions. Research Highlights Noticeboard

Chemists find a Chemist’s nanoscale fight against fatal lung disease new way to date the past

Over 9,000 people in the UK suffer from cystic fibrosis, an inherited condition that causes Scientists at the University of York, using chronic lung infections and a life expectancy of just 37 years. Therapies under development an ‘amino acid time capsule’, have led transform the lives of people who suffer from this cruel genetic disorder at York could the largest ever programme to date the and the vehicle used to deliver them is only a couple of nanometres across. British Quaternary period, stretching back nearly three million years. No more free rides for It is the first widespread application ‘piggy-backing’ viruses of refinements of the 40-year-old technique of amino acid geochronology. Atmospheric York biological chemists have collaborated as The refined method, developed at Chemists awarded York’s BioArCh laboratories £900k part of an international team to determine the , structure of the enzyme measures the breakdown of a closed endomannosidase significantly advancing our understanding of, system of protein in fossil snail shells, how a group of devastating human viruses and provides a method of dating including HIV and Hepatitis C hijack human archaeological and geological sites. The atmospheric research group in enzymes to reproduce and cause disease. The the Department of Chemistry have findings open the door to the development of had three new grants funded through new drugs to combat these deadly viruses that the NERC standard grants scheme, infect more than 180 million people worldwide. totalling around £900k. The first project is a collaboration between Dr Jacqui Hamilton, Professor Ally Lewis, and Professor Dwayne Heard at the University of Leeds, to test current Large EPSRC Grant Win understanding of the sinks for the for Liquid Crystals New Marie Curie hydroxyl radical in urban environments. Network in York Research , The second project is a collaboration Professor John Goodby FRSand (YSBL, Chemistry) and between Professor Ally Lewis Dr Gideon Grogan , Doctors Stephen Cowling Dr James Lee and Professor Nick and Professor Peter Professor Neil Bruce (CNAP, Biology) have Isabel Saez by the European Hewitt at Lancaster University, and have been awarded been awarded £650,000 Raynes FRS with the Local Atmosphere division Union for the Marie-Curie Network project a research grant by the EPSRC of Defra. This project will develop P4FIFTY. The Network will be coordinated entitled “Self-Organisation and new technologies which allow for from York and will involve collaborator Self-Assembly in Aliphatic Based the measurement of regional fluxes of Universities in Germany, France, Denmark Liquid Crystals” to start at the NO using low-and-slow flying aircraft. and the Netherlands, as well as industrial x beginning of 2012. The total value. £800,000 partners. The project, which combines of the grant is over chemists, biologists and biochemical engineers, will focus on the development of cytochromes P450 as industrial biocatalysts for green oxidation chemistry. Chemistry@York February 2012 York Chemist wins Chemistry of a Night Out Taekwondo Gold

Our first year chemists have taken a Danielle Williams, an closer look at the ‘typical’ components of MChem Year 4 student a night on the town. In the summer term scooped Gold Medal at last year, as a new initiative for their practical the recent UK National course, our first year students investigated Taekwondo Champion- the chemical composition of samples of ships. She fought off stiff fast food, alcoholic beverage and tobacco competition in the female products. Many of the samples were sourced senior section, successfully winning three locally. The food samples were analysed for The S enantiomer of nicotine bouts, to become UK National Champion. is found in the tobacco plant fat content by saponification and Not content with one medal, Danielle also won Bronze in the female third dan passed through water, dissolving nicotine, black-belt patterns section. Danielle has before analysis using High Performance been training in taekwondo since the Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). age of 10 and now is black belt third-dan. She regularly represents England in the Throughout these experiments the World Taekwondo Championships. students worked in groups, which gave them an opportunity to develop their team “I’m delighted with my haul of working and time management skills. medals and would like to thank They also had the opportunity to plan some the Chemistry Department for of the experiments themselves. At the end their continued support allowing me to of the project, they collaborated to produce balance my chemistry workload alongside a poster displaying their results and they the rigours of training. In particular, also gave a group presentation. The project I would like to thank my personal Blending a portion of fish and chips prior to quantifying culminated in a summary lecture, where the saturated and unsaturated fat content supervisor, for his guidance.” the results of all the groups were presented subsequent Gas Chromatography (GC) and compared. and for protein content by Kjeldahl analysis. The levels of ethanol in a variety “Liked the applied concept Year of beers, wines and spirits were measured – more interesting” using Benedict’s solution and UV-vis “Good chance to practise abroad spectroscopy. Finally, cigarettes and cigars techniques” were burnt and their gaseous emissions Student quotes update

Industry Placement This is a very exciting time for the Interim Meeting Day 2012 MChem(Year Abroad) programme, which is proving to be an increasingly popular “Year 4 in industry option for our undergraduate students. –a distinctive feature of our MChem course” We have our biggest ever number of students out on MChem(Year Abroad) It is a big day for the Chemistry Department on Wednesday placements in 2011–12, with 12 students week 3 of the Spring Term. In 2012 this day fell on the 25th Tom spent the final year of his MChem at each spending the academic year in one of January and is when all our fourth year industrial placement Roche(Basel) and, following a PhD at York, our partner universities around the world. students, together with their industrial supervisors, return he is now working as a research scientist This year we have students visiting in the pharmaceutical industry to the Department to review their progress so-far and to Australia, Finland, Singapore, Germany, discuss future research plans for the second half of their placement year. France and Spain. Next year looks set to continue the trend of increasing numbers Some students may have just travelled up the road from Reckitt Benckiser in Hull, Cytec in on the MChem(Year Abroad) programme, Redcar or Unilever in Leeds, whilst some may have crossed the Pennines from AstraZeneca in with 15 students currently preparing for Macclesfield, Bristol Myers Squibb in Birkenhead or MEL Chemicals in Manchester. Others placements in 2012–13. The number of may have let the train take the strain north from GSK in Stevenage, Lubrizol in Derbyshire, destinations available to our students is Infineum in Oxford, AkzoNobel in Slough or Cognis in Southampton, whilst some may have also increasing steadily. Placements at the flown in from DSM and Voltea in Holland or Roche in Switzerland. University of Sydney and the University There is always a buzz around the Department on this day as our forty placement students of Heidelberg have become available meet up with each other, a truly international gathering of friends, and share stories for the first time this year and both of how their placements are going and the exciting things they have done. The interim are already very popular. There are also meetings are also a time to discuss research progress with their York and Industrial exciting developments on the horizon, as supervisors. Over a sandwich lunch, there is the opportunity to showcase the research we are involved in discussions with several of the Department to our industrial partners and for our Graduate School to advertise potential exchange partners around the possible PhD research positions to our placement students. world that will hopefully allow us to send students to Canada in 2012–13 and As everyone winds their way home at the end of a busy day, students will feel much potentially to India and Japan in the near better prepared for, and less daunted by, their final assessment meetings in May. future. Closer to home, we’re currently Indeed the increase in self-confidence of our placement students after just working on a series of web pages to a few months on placement is a delight to experience. inform undergraduates about the Dr Brian Grievson, Industrial Liaison Officer MChem(Year Abroad) programme and to help them prepare for their year abroad. www.york.ac.uk/Chemistry Chemistry Admissions Feb 2012 Useful Links:

Additional £2m investment Student Finance in the student experience Come and www.york.ac.uk/students/housing-and- The Senior Management Group (SMG) at money/financial-support/ York has recently approved an additional www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/ £2 million package of measures as part of visit us UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/ our continuous drive to improve the student The University’s Student Financial Our visit days offer an excellent opportunity experience. The investment includes: Support Unit provides information to find out about the University of York. ¬ 24-hour opening of the Library on student funding and bursary Most importantly, you’ll be able to get a ¬ A bundle of key texts and reading entitlements and they will be able ‘feel’ for the University, which will help you resources for incoming undergraduate to help with any student financial decide whether or not York is somewhere students – both electronic and hardcopy queries that you may have. you’d like to spend your university years. ¬ Continuation of the Maths Skills Centre ¬ Digital recording of lectures (overheads Student Societies and sound) 2012 August Visit Days www.yusu.org ¬ Additional spend on refurbishing York University Students’ Union (YUSU) During August we will teaching spaces offers an array of societies covering be holding a series ¬ Additional academic staff to reduce a huge range of activites ranging from of Departmental Open Student–Staff Ratios the Juggling Society to award-winning Afternoons for prospective ¬ Increased spending on student media societies. chemistry students. These internships to support the employability will be held on 1, 7, 22 and 29 August. agenda Student Sports Clubs ¬ Free participation in college sport The visit day will involve a free lunch for all www.yusu.org/au ¬ Additional spend on coaching of sports guests, a tour of the department’s teaching With almost 60 clubs, York’s sports clubs through York Sport and laboratory facilities, a campus tour, an scene is very diverse, facilities are cheap ¬ Night-time staffing in all eight colleges opportunity to chat informally to members to use and sport is accessible to all. ¬ Additional staffing in the Open Door of staff, as well as opportunities to meet team our current students and talk to them about University Library ¬ Funding of an International Study Centre what it is like to live and study at York. www.york.ac.uk/library/libraryrefurbishment/ for York students. The Library is currently undergoing a Further details including how to book a www.york.ac.uk/communications/ £20 million refurbishment that will place can be found on the York website: internal/briefing-notes/student-experience/ provide 21st-century technology and www.york.ac.uk/chemistry/undergraduate/ media-rich learning, teaching and visitdays/ research environments.

RSC Meet the Uni 2012 University Open Days Chemistry Review www.york.ac.uk/chemistry/schools/chemrev/ Last July, the Department once again The university will be holding Chemistry Review, a magazine for post-16 contributed to the annual Meet Open Days on Wednesday chemists is commissioned and edited at the Universities event in London. 4 July and Saturday York. If you would like to contribute a The event, organised by the RSC, is designed 29 September 2012, Chemistry-related article please contact to be informal, offering potential students for further details including Dr Annie Hodgson [email protected] (and often their parents too) the opportunity booking: www.york.ac.uk/admin/uao/openday/ to question university representatives at We have organised a number of talks in the length about their courses and what they Chemistry Department during the day and offer to students. It is not designed to you will also have the opportunity to have replace the need for a visit to a university’s a tour of our teaching and research own open day, but it can help students to Find out about the latest news in the laboratories. Members of the admissions narrow down their options in advance. department using twitter: team and current undergraduate Chemistry The next event will be held on Saturday http://twitter.com/chemistryatyork students will also be on hand. 30 June 2012, at Burlington House, central London, and if you are able to attend, we Our Open Days in 2011 were extremely well Admissions Enquiries look forward to speaking with you about attended and we received some excellent please contact: our Chemistry degree courses. feedback from visiting students and their parents, including: Telephone: +44 (0) 1904 322545 “Thank you, especially for the personalised pack – it was Email: brilliant” [email protected]

“Everything was well organised and Website: planned – the tour guide was excellent” www.york.ac.uk/chemistry Student visitors Professor Dave’s Podcasts Snailmail: Professor David Smith has produced a These open days are primarily for Admissions Tutor series of podcasts on amazing molecules, prospective undergraduate students, Department of Chemistry which can be viewed on youtube. For but the Chemistry Department organises University of York the latest podcast by ProfessorDaveatYork, a Postgraduate Open Day in the Heslington “Transplantation – a personal story of the Autumn Term (for further details contact: York YO10 5DD chemistry behind organ transplantation”, [email protected]). see: www.youtube.com/user/ ProfessorDaveatYork?ob=0