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Chemistry Admissions February 2018 NEWSLETTER York Chemistry 2nd in Guardian League Table Outstanding
Chemistry at York moved to 2nd place in The Guardian University League Table 2017 NSS Results 2018. The Guardian scored departments for satisfaction with teaching, the course and feedback, student-to-staff ratio, spend per student, average entry tariff, value added and career prospects after six months of leaving the course. Out of 53 chemistry departments, York was ranked in an outstanding 2nd place, up two places from last year. York gained high scores across all areas with an overall score of 96.6% and 87.1% for feedback satisfaction; the highest of all of With an overall student satisfaction rating of 95% and departments. outstanding other results in the National Student Survey, This completed a successful hat-trick of York has confirmed its reputation as one of the very best top 4 places for Chemistry at York in the 3 places to study chemistry in the UK. major University League Tables, retaining Amongst its research-intensive Russell reflect how we challenge our students to our 4th position in both the 2018 Group competitor departments, York demonstrate and apply their knowledge of University League Table published by The Chemistry achieved first place in a chemistry in a wide range of different ways Times and the 2018 Complete University remarkable 7 of the 9 sections of the and the way in which we enable student Guide (since the publishing of league survey – leading the way in Teaching on my learning as part of a supportive community, tables in The Complete University Guide, Course (94%), Learning Opportunities with a strong emphasis on small group York Chemistry has never left the top 10). (91%), Assessment and Feedback (80%), tutorial teaching and teamwork. With the recent re-accreditation of all our Academic Support (89%), Organisation and undergraduate programmes by the Royal Management (91%), Learning Resources Head of Department, Society of Chemistry and the introduction (96%) and Learning Community (89%). Professor Duncan Bruce said: of two new pathways in the next These very pleasing NSS results academic year, the Department is well Alongside previously recognised areas reflect the strength of placed to build on this success, and aims of teaching excellence, the Department Departmental teaching across the to continue improving both research and was particularly delighted to come first in board and the unique York atmosphere teaching in the coming year. the Russell Group in the new NSS in which our academic staff work hard to categories of Learning Opportunities and encourage all students to achieve their Learning Community. We believe these true potential.
Leading national education conference held in the Department of Chemistry The Variety in Chemistry Education and Physics Higher Education Conference (ViCEPHEC) is the leading national conference for chemistry and physics education at tertiary level in the UK. This year the conference was held at York between 23 and 25 August. Delegates ranged from academic staff at universities to schoolteachers, outreach officers, laboratory specialists, technicians, students, industrialists and publishers. The event, attended by over 175 delegates, provided opportunities to share best practice within the disciplines of chemistry and physics by discussing cutting edge educational research and practice. Professor John Holman gave a thought-provoking plenary lecture in which he explored the transition made by students (and himself) between school and university chemistry education. 18-18 Chem Admissions news.qxp_Chem news 16/02/2018 16:11 Page 4
Chemistry@York February 2018
eeDc feed Chemical back Innovation
This MOOC was one of the best Landmark free online course, I've followed so far. It helped me to refresh so much of the eeDc, demystifies everyday chemistry I learnt during my apprenticeship as a chemical laboratory organic chemistry assistant years ago. My daughters, who P are still at primary school enjoyed the Exploring Everyday Chemistry (eeDc), a pioneer University of e kitchen experiments a lot. Thank you York MOOC (massive open online course), delivered by the s very much for this excellent course. FutureLearn platform, attracted learners from over 100 d countries. n h w
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More than 9000 learners from well over Learner feedback was extremely positive The practicals were fun and the 100 countries signed up for a first ever (see left-hand column for examples), course was really interesting and University of York MOOC, called Exploring including on the choice of topics, the insightful. Thank you York for Everyday Chemistry. The courses ran in presentation style and learning resources. this MOOC and I look forward to January and July, and comprised four weeks applying to your university next year. of learning with 85 individual learning The course development was led by steps, including more than 30 videos and Professor Andy Parsons, assisted by screencasts. It highlighted a range of undergraduate chemistry students starting chemistry-based topics relating to our with Katie Martinelli and James everyday lives – from perfumes to Titterington who helped develop the antibiotics, brewing and sport, with an project and facilitate the first running, then emphasis on the important role of organic Caitlin Evans, Craig Hardy and Josie chemistry. Aspects of recent research from Rogers for the second running, including the Department of Chemistry were compiling some weekly videos (the course included, together with examples of our has attracted over 5000 postings). undergraduate teaching materials.
Activities included experimenting ‘in the kitchen’ with hands-on projects ranging from extracting a plant fragrance, to testing the activity of spices against microbes – Ian Barr, from the Centre for Lifelong learners could share their results using tools Learning, who is coordinating MOOC such as Padlet and twitter (@eedcAndy, activity at the University of York, wrote: #FLchemistry). The course was designed to be of particular use to sixth-formers Feedback from FutureLearn has interested in developing independent been highly complimentary – the learning skills to help the transition to course has been deemed to be university – marketing of the course to over ‘excellent’ following Quality Assurance, 100 schools and colleges was supported by Following the success of the first run, a and the trailer created to promote the the University’s Widening Participation team slightly revised version of the course will course has been used as an exemplar by with a range of publicity created for feeder start on 2 July 2018 (to register your FutureLearn when meeting potential schools and colleges. Indeed, this interest: https://www.york.ac.uk/study/moocs/). new European partners in how to create admissions season, a number of our UCAS engaging content. It’s been a genuine applicants have mentioned MOOCs, For details of the course content you might pleasure to work with Andy and the including Exploring Everyday Chemistry, in like to see our promotional video: team and share in their enthusiasm their personal statements. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDsJ8yrPEk4 for both chemistry and delivering a first-class learner experience. www.york.ac.uk/Chemistry 18-18 Chem Admissions news.qxp_Chem news 16/02/2018 16:11 Page 5
Chemistry@York February 2018
3D structure of enzyme opens path to new drug design in brain disease Researchers at York and Simon Fraser University, Canada, have revealed the 3D structure of an enzyme that could provide a crucial step forward in treating neurodegenerative diseases. Previous work from these research teams investigated a class Sun, sea and electrochemistry of diseases called tauopathies, which occur when tau proteins spontaneously group together in the York researchers have found a new way of brain. It is often associated with Alzheimer’s and safely trapping the greenhouse gas, other neurodegenerative diseases. Research has Molecules in the body carbon dioxide, as a solid mineral, shown that the tau protein can be modified by a more visible in new dawsonite. The pr sugar, natural to the body, called O-GlcNAc. This ocess, developed by detection system sugar can stabilise the protein to block it from Professor Michael North and Dr Alison York researchers have developed a clumping together and may thereby prevent Parkin, uses scrap metal, seawater and technique that will enhance the disease. The human enzyme O-GlcNAc-hydrolase, electricity from solar panels, and is highly performance of magnetic however, is responsible for the removal of this scalable. Some 850 million tonnes of carbon resonance imaging (MRI) in crucial sugar from the protein, making it a prime dioxide per year could be captured using identifying disease target in preventing the progression of tau-related . MRI and nothing more than the dream summer Nuclear Magnetic Resonance holiday combination of sun and sea, along dementias. In order to understand how this (NMR) are two of the most clumping of tau could be prevented or reduced by with some scrap metal and electricity. important techniques used in increasing O-GlcNAc, scientists at York investigated identifying simple molecules and the structure of the human enzyme to reveal how it complex materials and pr is organised to function in this way. ovide valuable information about how Green Chemistry they behave. Applications in the wins H2020 Funding diagnosis of a range of diseases, from cancerous tumours to heart Our Green Chemistry Centre of disease, are particularly important. Excellence (GCCE) has been awarded Research three-year Horizon 2020 funding as These technologies work by part of a multidisciplinary and multi- Highlights detecting the magnetic dipoles of actor collaborative Research and nuclei, but in a typical hospital Innovation Action (RIA) coordinated by scanner, they effectively only detect Unitelma Sapienza University, Italy. The one molecule in every 200,000. project STAR-ProBio aims to promote a Large spiroclip research grant This makes it difficult in medical more efficient and harmonized policy Dr Will Unsworth and Professor Richard Taylor diagnostics to see the full picture regulation framework, needed to have been awarded £451,905 from the of what is happening in the body. promote the market-pull of bio- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research within the context based products Council (EPSRC) to support research into “Spiroclip of a sustainable 21st Century. This will Technology: from Catalogue to Spirocycle in One be achieved by developing a fit-for- Step”. The main aim of this exciting research purpose modular sustainability programme is to develop novel chemistry to make scheme, linked to standards, labels a diverse range of complex spirocyclic and certification opportunities. structures directly from simple catalogue starting materials. The new ‘Catalogue to Complexity’ concept will be based on the development of a new family of bespoke chemical r colloquially as ‘Spir eagents, known oclips’. Food flavour on a molecular scale Scientists develop Dr Seishi Shimizu, in collaboration with new antibiotic for Professor Steven Abbott of TCNF Ltd and Tobacco-smoke residue that gonorrhoea Professor Matubayasi of Osaka University, lingers in furniture, curtains and Chemists and biologists at York have has been measuring how much vanilla, house dust can still be harmful harnessed the therapeutic effects of almond or lemon flavour is bound to food macromolecules, which is crucial to Dr Jacqueline Hamilton has written a piece on the carbon monoxide-releasing molecules understanding food flavour and aroma. harmful effects of tobacco-smoke residue for The to develop a new antibiotic that For many decades, experimental data on Conversation UK. Each year about 600,000 people could be used to treat the sexually flavour-food binding was analysed using die from exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. transmitted infection gonorrhoea. chemical equations even though the Once the smoke clears after a cigarette has been There are concerns that gonorrhoea, dynamic and fluctuating nature of extinguished, nicotine and other harmful chemicals which is the second most common binding cannot easily be simplified in this left behind can stick to surfaces and fabrics. This sexually transmitted infection in way. Starting from the fundamental laws residue is known as third-hand smoke. There is England, is becoming untreatable. of statistical thermodynamics and growing evidence that third-hand smoke Almost 35,000 cases were reported fuelled by tea and coffee, the researchers contamination is extensive and can linger for in England during 2014, with most wrote down a theory that can be used to extended periods. Non-smokers can be exposed to cases affecting young men and capture such non-specific aroma-food third-hand smoke from breathing residual gases, women under the age of 25. interactions. touching surfaces and swallowing dust. 18-18 Chem Admissions news.qxp_Chem news 16/02/2018 16:11 Page 6
Chemistry@York February 2018 ChemSoc lecture 2017 Award Winners Academic staff shared their excitement over Professor Lucy Carpenter their own research in the first open lecture, Royal Society of Chemistry Athena Swan organised by our undergraduate student Tilden Prize Celebrations chemical society, ChemSoc, in which undergraduates could find out more about It is 10 years since we gained our Athena research carried out in the department. SWAN Gold Award. Throughout this year we Professor Peter O’Brien Dr Seishi Shimizu and Professor David are celebrating this wonderful award. AstraZeneca, Smith talked about recent results from their There will be a series of events, culminating in GlaxoSmithKline, research teams, their shared fascination with a scientific symposium on 16 May at which Pfizer & Syngenta interactions between molecules and their the headline speaker will be Professor Carolyn Process Chemistry Research impact on real-world processes. Professor Bertozzi, from Stanford University, USA. Smith said: York is one of the largest Professor Odile Eisenstein Departments of Chemistry in the Royal Society of Chemistry Excellence in UK, carrying out highly impactful Centenary Prize research across a broad spectrum of teaching and science. Sharing our own research supervision excitement with our undergraduate Dr Jon Agirre students was a genuine pleasure. Royal Society The YUSU Excellence Awards present an University Research Fellowship opportunity to recognise and celebrate the work of teaching and support staff across the University of York. Entirely student-led, Dr Richard Mandle the Awards reward the teachers and staff British Liquid Crystal Society that are making an outstanding contribution Young Scientist Prize to students’ lives. The Department has an outstanding record and, this year, Ben Coulson was awarded the ‘Demonstrator of the Year’ award.
Funding boost for state-of-the-art equipment The Department has been awarded £1.6 million to invest in state-of-the- art equipment used to investigate the three dimensional structures of biological molecules. The award, which will be used to invest in cryo- electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) equipment, was awarded by the Wellcome Trust. The funding will be matched with a £1million gift from alumnus Dr Tony Wild – Dr Wild, a leading businessman and philanthropist, has been a long-time supporter of Chemistry at York. York chemist Cryo-EM is a form of microscopy used by structural biologists in which biological samples are flash frozen to extremely low temperatures allowing them to be studied in the electron wins prestigious microscope in their native states – how they exist within a living cell. Cryo-EM is Royal Society of transforming areas of science essential for improving health, from seeing how drugs get into cells or visualising the atomic-level structure of a virus to aid vaccine development. Professor Chemistry prize Gideon Davies said: Lucy Carpenter, Professor of Cryo-electron microscopy is one of the most exciting developments of recent Atmospheric Chemistry at the University years. We are looking forward to analysing the complex atomic structures of of York, was awarded the 2017 Royal viruses and of proteins involved in human disease here in York. Society of Chemistry Tilden Prize. Professor Carpenter’s work focuses on the emissions, chemistry, and impact of Journal honour for processes occurring in the atmosphere above the world’s oceans. She uses a Professor John Goodby combination of field observations, Emeritus Professor John Goodby has been honoured with a laboratory studies, and theoretical special edition of the journal, Liquid Crystals. The celebratory modeling to help answer important issue of the journal was published in honour of the professor's questions about global climate change. 65th birthday. It contains a collection of outstanding publications from leading scientists in liquid crystals from across the globe, Professor Carpenter said: including a number of contributions from colleagues at York, and a special article from Professor Goodby. I am absolutely delighted and Stephen Cowling with the journal honoured to receive a Royal he guest-edited. Dr Stephen Cowling, research fellow in the Department, Society of Chemistry Tilden Prize, organised the festschrift and took on the role as guest editor for the issue. He said: and very pleased that advances in It was a great honour to be able to compile this special collection to help chemical research in the field of celebrate the 65th birthday of Professor Goodby – a colleague I have known atmospheric science have been and respected for over 25 years. recognised. www.york.ac.uk/Chemistry 18-18 Chem Admissions news.qxp_Chem news 16/02/2018 16:11 Page 1
Chemistry Admissions Feb 2018 F son
Dr Glenn Hurst has been recognised as one of the top 10 UK social media Replica posters for our year 3 MChem students, making who a blockbuster undertook a superstars in a competition process chemistry project celebrating the excellent social medicine called esomeprazole, kindly sponsored by AstraZeneca media work being done in Higher Education
Thank you to all in York Chemistry who BSc chemistry student, helped us Laura Berga, achieve a Gold in the was one of 25 students to receive a Laidlaw University of Undergraduate Research York Green and Leadership Visitors from K9 fi, a not for profit company that Impact Awards Scholarship. This is a has specialist fire investigation dogs that work for new programme that the Fire Service and police, during the summer term. equips undergraduate A great break from revision students with the skills to students with an informative talk and cutefor dogs! our become leaders in their chosen occupations.
, With over 175 videos on YouTube The University of York teddy bear is on first year York Chemistry Students have, the cover of an issue of the journal over the past 7 years, created one of the Chemical Communications. The design was most diverse sources of online educational material inspired by the Dr Alison Parkin in the field of polymer chemistry group’s review of their recent advances in developing a transformative new technique for bioelectrochemistry A chemis-tree appeared in our teaching labs at the end of November
Many congratulations to our first year Chemistry students who student ambassadors have been awarded departmental sponsorships One of our in action on a September Open Day www.york.ac.uk/Chemistry 18-18 Chem Admissions news.qxp_Chem news 16/02/2018 16:11 Page 2
Chemistry Admissions Feb 2018 Useful Links: Intern Come and Student Finance www.york.ac.uk/students/finance/ of the www.gov.uk/browse/education/student-finance/ Photo: Andrew Ferguson Andrew Photo: Year visit us The University’s Student Financial Support Unit will be able to help A final year York Our visit days offer an excellent opportunity with any student financial queries Chemist has won to find out about the University of York. that you may have. Intern of the Year Most importantly, you’ll be able to get a for her innovative ‘feel’ for the University, which will help you Student Societies work with North decide whether or not York is somewhere www.yusu.org Yorkshire Police. you’d like to spend your university years. York University Students’ Union (YUSU) Tanya Bayley won the accolade following a offers an array of societies covering 12-week internship working with police to a huge range of activites ranging from look at ways the force could better utilise 2018 Pre-application the Juggling Society to award-winning their current equipment; such as laptops, Visit Days media societies. computers and mobile phones. Over the summer we will be holding two Departmental Tanya’s report produced 20 Student Sports Clubs Open Afternoons for recommendations, nearly half of which www.yusu.org/opportunities/sport/clubs-a-z prospective Chemistry have been assessed and agreed for Enjoy more than 60 different sports clubs. students. Please see our implementation, with the rest currently website for further information and being considered. Tanya received her award University Library booking. at a special celebratory event at Heslington www.york.ac.uk/library/ Hall, which was attended by local businesses Each visit day will involve a free lunch for all The Library has recently been and University staff and students. guests, a tour of the department’s teaching transformed with a £20 million and laboratory facilities, a college tour, an investment and is open 24 hours a day, opportunity to chat informally to members 7 days a week, 362 days a year. Snapshots of staff, as well as opportunities to meet our current students and talk to them about Chemistry Review what it is like to live and study at York. www.york.ac.uk/chemistry/schools/chemrev/ Chemistry Review, a magazine for The Chemistry department went post-16 chemists, is commissioned out of their way to present their and edited at York. department and course, and why to choose to study chemistry. Departmental video links They covered everything possible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOuk9wlnfJI Visit Day quote 2017 ... to show how our Reach Out Chemistry York (ROCy) project aims to engage with Dr Alison Parkin explains how her research is exploring prospective Chemistry undergraduates. new ways to GENERATE ENERGY at YorkTalks 2017 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=- bgLfHlOtL4)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBm2fxSVpXc ... for a short clip about our new teaching laboratory, with its 80 two-person fume hoods, dedicated instrument rooms, and an adjacent social area with a computer suite.
2018 University Open Days The University will be holding Open Days on Fri 29 June, Sun 1 July, MAGNIFY THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE: Take a look at our Sat 15 September, and new Magnify website – students help us address areas of Find out about the latest news in the Sun 16 September. interest to applicants (https://www.york.ac.uk/chemistry/ department using twitter: undergraduate/newstarters/magnify/) For further details including booking: http://twitter.com/chemistryatyork www.york.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/visits/open -days/ Admissions Enquiries We have organised a number of talks in the please contact: Chemistry Department during the day and Telephone: you will also have the opportunity to have +44 (0) 1904 322545 a tour of our teaching and research laboratories. Members of the admissions Email: team and current undergraduate Chemistry [email protected] students will also be on hand. Website: Our Open Days in 2017 were extremely well www.york.ac.uk/chemistry Animation video created by Digifish to showcase attended and we received some excellent CHEMISTRY AT YORK’S AWARDS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND RESEARCH feedback from visiting students and their (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O56Mkv_tmQ) parents.