the-BA : Award for Lorelly Wilson

Lorelly Wilson (second from right) with Tony Blair

A schools-industry initiative started by the BA has been picked out for a prestigious award.

The Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Tony Blair, presented the award at a special ceremony in London to Lorelly Wilson who has pioneered chemistry workshops for Year 6 pupils through an initiative sponsored by local companies – Norkem, Multisol and Univar.

The Prime Minister told an invited audience of parliamentarians and scientists: 'We rely more and more on science to improve the UK’s contribution to the value-added chain and for the commercial future of our country. Stimulating young people’s interest in science and technology is utterly crucial.'

Lorelly’s citation read ‘For promoting a positive image for chemistry, and making it interesting and exciting through practical workshops for several thousand primary school children; as well as through projects and talks for secondary students of all abilities, their parents and the general public.’

Lorelly’s interest in science communication has been fostered by many years' association with the BA, and these chemistry workshops first started at the Festival of Science in Newcastle, Leeds and Cardiff.

Last year, Lorelly Wilson undertook more than seventy chemistry workshops in Cheshire, Lancashire and North Wales - involving more than one thousand pupils. They have proved so successful that there is a constant flow of requests from local schools for additional workshops. Lorelly has been running these workshops for over five years now. In this time she has noticed that the practical experimentation often appeals to students who have until then shown little interest in academic work. It is common for the primary teacher to comment that a particular student has shown enthusiasm for the first time. The Winsford Educational Partnership has found a way to build on this interest and develop the particular skills of this group of students. Students identified at year 6, by their primary teacher, as having a special interest in science. (S.A.S) are offered an enhanced science curriculum when they go on to Woodford Lodge or the Verdin secondary schools. This will include the BA CREST Awards which are already an established feature of extra-curricular science in the schools.

As always with these successful initiatives, they depend on and are being supported by a number of partners, which include the BA, BCDTA, Royal Society of Chemistry, Chester University and Manchester University.

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