Chemistry Engagement

Inspiring the next generation of chemists

Two students in a chemistry lab
Spectroscopy in a Suitcase

Spectroscopy in a Suitcase

We deliver this in your school/college. Email us to with proposed dates throughout the year.

Leading academics from the Department will deliver an informative workshop on Analytical Chemistry allowing your students to experience practical spectroscopy.

Your students will experience practical spectroscopy further complementing studies in school or as an introduction to the topic. This masterclass will improve your students’ understanding of analytical chemistry, further embedding objectives delivered off campus, increasing intellectual curiosity in chemistry and giving them an insight into chemistry at undergraduate level. There will also be an opportunity for students to network with current chemistry students at Lancaster and hear more about career opportunities in analytical chemistry.

The spectroscopy workshop is designed for Years 12 and 13 lasting one hour per session.

Numbers: Up to 32 students in each session.

Chemistry of Fingerprints

This activity is available for year 12 and year 11 students from September - December. We can also host year 13 students for an extended version of this masterclass.

With an introduction to the physical and chemical nature of forensic science, this is a masterclass that truly leaves an impression. Your students will discover how to visualise latent fingerprints – understanding the residues our fingers leave behind, and how commercial powders can make them visible. The session delves into the polymerisation reaction of the fingerprint residue with super glue, looking at the initiation, propagation, and termination steps. The masterclass is designed to further develop confidence in practical chemistry and give students a better understanding of Chemistry in everyday life.

Numbers: up to 40 students.

Research in a Box
Two students looking at a beaker

Body in the Lab

Suitable for year 13 students all year around. Suitable for year 12 students from December onwards.

Fancy being the next Sherlock Holmes? Then let your students attempt this masterclass challenge to find out what happened to cause the body in the lab. Tackling this challenge in groups of 4 - 6, this session will use UV spectroscopy to determine the concentration of aspirin in the body and ascertain if the amount present was enough to be the cause of death. This is a full-on session where your students will have to use TLC, melting point, IR, and exposure to MS data to solve the mystery and gain further understanding of opportunities for graduate chemists.

Suitable for Year 12 A-Level Chemistry students.

Aspirin Masterclass

Suitable for year 13 students all year around. Suitable for year 12 students from December onwards.

By taking a closer look at something so ordinary as aspirin, we can show your students just how fundamental chemistry is to the everyday world around us – discovering where physical chemistry meets analytical and organic chemistry. The session introduces students to a variety of different techniques and tasks. First, we use a pH meter to follow the titration of a weak acid with a strong base, graphically determining the pKa. They then study the titration of an AlkaSeltzer solution with HCl, before isolating and analysing the resulting Aspirin precipitate. Through using the spectroscopic and physical methods, your students will have packed in TLC, melting point, IR, HPLC & NMR analyses – a busy day full of chemistry!

A student working under a fume hood.
A student immersed in virtual reality wearing goggles and raising their hands

Simulation and Spectroscopy Masterclass – Chemistry and Virtual Reality

Suitable for both year 12 and year 13 students all year around.

In this masterclass, we’ll introduce your students to the world of computational chemistry, where we explore the chemical world using quantum mechanics! We’ll investigate the energy released in combustion reactions of a fossil fuel (methane) in comparison to sustainable alternatives: methanol (a biofuel) and hydrogen. We’ll then combine simulation with infra-red spectroscopy to solve the problem of separating mixed plastic waste, identifying a plastic which can be converted back into oil. Finally, we’ll step into virtual reality, where your students will provide the energy for combustion reactions themselves!

Outreach talks

To compliment your curriculum activities, we are offering 20-45 minute talks to be delivered by our academics in person (at your school) or online. These talks are based on the teaching and research that is currently taking place within our Department. They are a great opportunity for your students to:

  • gain an insight into the experience of studying chemistry
  • take part in an enrichment opportunity to understand how chemistry goes beyond the classroom
  • be aware of current research within chemistry

Example talks include:

  • Your Future with Chemistry: The Impactful World of Chemistry and Careers
  • The Importance of Energy in Our World: A Chemistry Perspective
  • Powering the Future with Solar Cells
  • Sending Chemical Spies into a Medical World
  • Expediting Drug Discovery with Metal Catalysis

View our full list of outreach talks to find out more.

Elements of Success: Building Confidence in Chemistry

We are excited to announce our new project 'Elements of Success: Building Confidence in Chemistry' partnered with Victrex aimed at year 12 students from widening participation backgrounds. The Royal Society of Chemistry have funded the project, along with Victrex partnering with us as the Industry representative, and we are hoping to re-run the project in the summer 2026 term.

This pioneering project is designed to raise aspirations, boost confidence, and showcase the value of studying chemistry at higher education level.

The project was inspired by findings from the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Chemistry for All report, which highlighted the key barriers to participation in post-16 chemistry education, particularly among disadvantaged students. These include the perception that chemistry is too difficult, a lack of relatable role models in the field, and limited awareness of chemistry-related career pathways

Victrex, a long-standing supporter of STEM learning in disadvantaged communities, will play a key role in delivering lab sessions and employability workshops, helping students understand the real-world applications of chemistry and the range of future opportunities it can unlock.

Ultimately, the project represents a key part of Lancaster’s commitment to widening participation and addressing inequalities in access to science education. Find out more or register your interest for next year's project by emailing g.spencer3@lancaster.ac.uk.

Royal Society of Chemistry School's' Analyst Competition Announcement

We are delighted to announce that we will be hosting the regional heat of the School's Analyst Competition on 29th April 2026.

The Schools’ Analyst Competition 2026, organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund, is open to teams of three students (year 12). Participating schools can host their own preliminary heats in well-equipped labs, using supplied reagents, samples, and safety documents. Teams are challenged to apply a variety of analytical chemistry methods — such as titrations, spectroscopy, chromatography and more — to tackle both familiar and novel problems. Top school teams receive recognition and certificates; they may advance to regional rounds, where further prizes (like voucher awards) are available. The competition offers participants a rich, hands-on experience to build technical skills, promote teamwork, and stimulate interest in analytical science.

If you would like your students to take part, contact us. We will be hosting the regional heat and can host 40 students in total and you can have as many teams of three as you wish. Spaces are limited so if you would like to compete, please get in touch as soon as possible.

Find out more and contact email us chemistry@lancaster.ac.uk to register your interest and participation in one of our laboratory spaces.

Teacher Support - Enhancing Chemistry Teaching Through University Collaboration

Opportunities for high-quality, subject-specific teacher development in chemistry are currently limited. At the same time, schools are increasingly seeking real-world STEM applications to inspire students. Teachers we have spoken to this year are particularly keen on practical, hands-on activities they can bring back to the classroom. This day has been developed with those needs in mind and offers:

  • Access to advanced instrumentation (NMR and infrared spectroscopy), rarely available in schools but part of the A-Level syllabus.
  • A chance to refresh and extend subject knowledge through a multi-step synthesis (Lidocaine) and analysis of products using cutting-edge techniques.
  • Participation in a curriculum mapping exercise, aligning A-Level Chemistry content with our first-year undergraduate teaching, ensuring smoother transitions for students.
  • High-quality classroom resources and teaching data that you can take back immediately to your students.

We see this as more than a development opportunity: it is a partnership. By working closely with teachers in our region, we aim to strengthen the pipeline of students into STEM, highlight authentic applications of chemistry, and ensure Lancaster Chemistry continues to be a visible and supportive leader in science education.

We are running our first teacher development day on 18th December 2025. Spaces are now fully booked, but if you would like to register your interest for further events or be placed on the waitlist, please get in touch with us by emailing chemistry@lancaster.ac.uk.

Contact us

For more information or to book an activity please contact us on our dedicated email address

Email us