Dear colleague
We’re nearly at the end of another challenging year. It ends on a positive with students finally able to sit their examinations. The success of these students will in no small part be down to the support and guidance you have given them over the last couple of years. It is also the time of year when we begin planning for the next year. Below are some resources to end this year and support planning for the next year.
Finally have a wonderful summer and take time to reflect on all your achievements and be proud. Do get in touch if you’d like to know more about these or any of our other programmes or resources.
Best wishes,
Rizwana
For teachers and technicians
Take Charge – Global battery experiment
Join our 2022 global experiment to investigate the science behind batteries and find out how you can contribute to building a more sustainable future. Check our new microsite where you can find out how to take part. Please share your results with other climate heroes on our website and on Twitter by using the hashtag #RSCTakeCharge.
Excellence in Education prizes – last chance for nominations
If you know an individual (or team) who has gone above and beyond to make a difference, show your appreciation by nominating them for an RSC Education Prize. Our Excellence in Education Prizes celebrate educators in primary, secondary, further education and higher education – including, teachers, technicians and more. These prizes recognise a wide range of skills – from curriculum design to effective teaching, and from personal development to working culture. There are specific prizes for teams and for those in the early stages of their career.
Technical Champions
Technical Champions is a new quality mark that awards secondary schools and FE colleges in the UK who fully support and recognise the importance of their technical workforce. Successful applicants will receive a plaque, certificate, digital banners and related media content, as well as detailed feedback and online support.
On-demand PD courses
We’ve made all our online on-demand professional development courses free until 31 August 2022, inclusive. Our courses are designed to give you an in-depth understanding of key concepts in teaching chemistry. Each course can be completed at your own pace, giving you time to try out new strategies and activities in your classroom before progressing further.
Funding opportunities
Technician skills development grant
Grants of up to £7000 are available to support technicians working in all sectors to undertake short to mid-term visits to organisations overseas or within their current country of residence, with the aim of developing skills to support their career progression.
Inclusion and Diversity Fund
Next deadline is Monday 19 September 2022
Our Inclusion and Diversity Fund provides financial support for innovative products, activities and research projects that do just that. Previous recipients of our funding have included projects related to gender, disability, socio-economic background, language, race and ethnicity, the LGBT+ community and more. These have been delivered via initiatives such as data collection and analysis, workshops, conferences and hackathons.
We will consider individual applications up to the value of £5000. Funding greater than £5000 may be considered for one project each year. Please contact the diversity team for more details.
Teaching empowerment funds
Apply for up to £600 towards a project or event in your local area – next round opens September 2022
If you’re passionate about strengthening the quality of primary science or secondary chemistry teaching in your local area then we want to help. Organise a collaborative project or event with the guidance of your local education coordinator and you could be eligible for up to £600 towards costs from our teaching empowerment funds.
Your project should aim to improve the quality of teaching and/or foster supportive and effective teaching communities. To find out more browse the appropriate fund’s dedicated website.
Elevating Chemistry
Applications open until 15 June (the RSC may need to close applications early depending on level of interest)
We are inviting schools and colleges with at least 25% Free School Meals to put forward proposals for projects that should be an idea that you wouldn’t be able to implement without RSC support and fulfil one or more of our three aims:
- Support teachers to address the impacts of Covid-19 on chemistry learning with their students.
- Support the development of practical skills impacted as a result of Covid-19 measure.
- Support sustained curriculum enrichment for students who have lost enrichment opportunities as a result of Covid-19 measures.
Faraday Institution resources linked to the battery sector
Supported by the RSC, the Faraday Institution partnered with the Royal Institution to host an interactive careers event aimed at young people aged 13–17. It showcases the array of skills needed and the wealth of exciting careers available in the battery sector that can positively contribute to the green revolution as we seek to go fully electric. Below is a recording of the theatre event along with careers and battery related STEM resources.
For students
Escape the Atom – Explore incredible careers in the chemical sciences
This very special escape game (created with help from our Outreach Fund) showcases a range of surprising careers in the chemical sciences. This game is aimed towards ages 14–16 with content relevant to GCSE, National 5, and Junior Cycle. It will show your students what it is like to work with chemistry in areas such as volcanology, Antarctic research and biomedical writing.
Resources and news
Reflecting on the Technician Commitment so far
In the two years since the launch event, we are pleased to have supported technicians in their career and skills development across each pillar of the Technician Commitment – Visibility, Recognition, Career Development and Sustainability.
In Search of Solutions: Is the secretary guilty? (11–16 years)
In Search of Solutions: Budding forensic scientists are tasked to determine glass contamination in sugar. Linking to topics on dissolving, filtration, evaporation, chemical changes, and crystallisation.
Revision resources
Here is our collection of articles from Education in Chemistry to support your learners’ revision.
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