“how buckyballs were discovered and making molecules”/file/... · 2017-10-17 · buckyball was really interesting” pupils said when asked what things they’d learned today.

Funds kindly donated from the University of Sheffield Alumni fund have enabled the Schools laboratory

to be refurbished and to ensure the legacy of Harry’s inspirational workshop continues.

@KRI_Sheff

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Use our online resources: In the Buckyball Science Series videos you will learn how small a Buckyball is, and where it sits on the ‘Scientific Scale’, and be shown how to make your very own model Buckyball as well as finding out about marvellous molecules and chemical reactions.www.sheffield.ac.uk/outreach/primary/kroto

Learn about the chemistry of food with 12 Edible experiment videos and demo sheets. From finding out why mustard burns your nasal passages but chillies don’t, the link between beetroot and camels, why you might taste boiled potatoes when you eat cheddar cheese or how beetles can make a surprising contribution to our food – there are experiments for everyone.www.sheffield.ac.uk/chemistry/ edibleexperiments

When asked what the most interesting thing was that they

had learnt pupils said..

“how buckyballs were discovered

and making molecules”

Y7 Pupils from Charnock Academy,

Sheffield enjoying the Kroto workshop

at the University of Sheffield

when asked “if you could ask one question about

University what would it be?”, one pupil replied...

“when can I join?”

Department of Chemistry.

“The Harry Kroto

buckyball was really

interesting” pupils said when asked

what things they’d learned today.

In 1958 Professor Sir Harry Kroto arrived as an undergraduate student at Sheffield to study chemistry. He graduated with a first class BSc honours degree followed in 1964 by a PhD.

Harry went on to become a leading chemistry researcher and, in 1996, was awarded

the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his discovery of a new form of

carbon, buckminsterfullerene. Buckminsterfullerene stands alongside the two other well-known forms of carbon - diamond and graphite. The extraordinary molecule consists of 60 carbon atoms arranged in a sphere, the hexagon and pentagon pattern exactly matching the design of most footballs. The configuration reminded Kroto of the geodesic domes

designed by the architect Buckminster Fuller, hence the name

“buckminsterfullerene”, or ‘buckyballs’.

When asked what they learned from

the student ambassadors at the event, pupils

said that...

“university is fun”

Harry was passionate about sharing his love of science and ran science activities with school children around the world. Sadly, Sir Harry passed away in April 2016 at the age of 76, but his wife, Lady Margaret Kroto, established the Kroto Family Education Foundation. This legacy enables the University of Sheffield to continue Sir Harry’s work toinspire and enthuse school children about Buckminsterfullerene and about chemistry.

Get involved! Come and visit the Kroto schools laboratoryBring your students to visit our Kroto Schools laboratory in the Chemistry department at the University of Sheffield to try some hands-on science. The lab allows groups of school students to undertake hands on practical Chemistry classes using University level equipment and resources that they would not have access to within school. Having undergraduate teaching going on around the lab gives visitors a unique insight into the student experience and that of a University chemistry department. www.sheffield.ac.uk/chemistry/schools