Workshops for schools

This workshop introduces students to the principles of chromatography, specifically thin layer chromatography and HPLC or GC.

This allows them hands on practical experience in preparing samples for analysis and running samples on analytical instrumentation, as well as quantification work.

A short presentation introducing the topic will be followed by a practical session focusing on the visualization and examination of security features in documents.

Using professional document examination equipment, students can also examine properties of inks using forensic examples such as forged cheques or threatening notes, etc. as well as ESDA techniques.

Learn the history and fundamental principles behind fingerprinting techniques. After a short presentation, students will have the chance to take their own fingerprints and identify and categorise those prints.

They will also have the opportunity to try enhancing latent fingerprints using powdering techniques.

This exciting workshop offer students the chance to experiment with colourful and explosive chemical reactions in a fun and controlled environment.

The science of exothermic reactions is introduced in a practical based session.

Students will enjoy a practical session which introduces the principles of microscopy.

A series of forensic examples are examined, (fibres, hairs, print features, etc.) and the students will compare these examples, identify matches and also learn how to measure the size of observed features.

Have you ever wondered what ecstasy actually is or the structure of the active substance in cannabis?

In this fun, hands on session students can choose their own molecule of crime to make and they’ll even get a picture taken with the molecule to take away as a souvenir!

Students can take advantage of the excellent analytical equipment available in the Keele Laboratories.

Popular sessions include the analysis of aspirin using infra-red spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, (students can bring their own synthesized aspirin to analyse, particularly suitable for AS or A level students).

Make-it-molecular is all about providing hands-on experiences with molecules.

We aim to show the beauty of the molecules that make up our world and provide fun and interactive ways to stimulate an increased awareness of molecules and the roles they play in our lives.

Make-it-molecular is an outreach activity in which people come along, choose a molecule to make, build a model of it and as a reward have their picture taken with it. The hands-on nature of make-it-molecular gives the opportunity for the participant to interact and engage with the molecules, and to have a focus for asking questions and learning about atoms and molecules.

We welcome anyone to get involved running make-it-molecular style events. Our molecule kits are sourced from Molymod® and the  is designed to make about 100 assorted molecules. You can also download our .

We have a  of molecule instruction cards as well as a number of themed sets:

•  - see also a version with . For example: paracetamol, diprivan, penicillin.
•  - see also a version with . For example molecules found in the human body, e.g. amino acids, DNA bases.
•  - see also a version with . Created for biodiversity theme of national science week 2010.
• Food and Drink - see also a version with . For example: caffeine, vanilla, tartrazine.
•  - see also a version with . For example: fake tan, indigo, musk.
•  - see also a version with . For example: dettol, teflon, antifreeze.
•  - see also a version with . Including the challenge of building a buckyball.
•  - see also a version with . A collection of environmentally friendly molecules.
•  - see also a version with . Designed for use with primary school children.
•  - (developed with Bristol ChemLabs). Lots of smelly molecules!
• - molecules with connections to the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Additional individual instruction cards:

• and , the two antiviral drugs prescribed to treat swine flu.
• : a mini version of our CARBON RAPTURE structure

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