Greenhead College Chemistry Department

Q&A with Greenhead College Chemistry Department

Who or what inspires you?
Stuart Strathdee: I'm inspired by some of the young people I'm lucky enough to teach. They've got heaps of drive and resilience and are determined to make a difference.Will Carver: Ordinary people who overcome adversity or challenges through hard work and determination inspire me. I can think of countless examples of students who I have taught, who have through hard work overcome different barriers to achieve their goals. Ultra marathon runners do much the same thing through the course of a race. The ultra marathon runner Jasmin Paris ran the whole of the Pennine Way in winter 2019, whilst expressing milk for her baby. She won the overall race and set a course record that has not yet been bettered by a man or a woman.Ruth Farnell: So many people inspire me, but it is the small acts around me that often inspire me the most. I am amazed by so many of the students I teach, their drive and determination to succeed, their ability to absorb and process new information, the way they accept the challenges facing them and persevere. The staff I work with in the department are also a real inspiration, they have such passion for teaching young people as well as interest in the subject matter, their collective ideas and experiences bring so much to the department and college. Every small act that eases someone else’s day or brings someone joy is just as inspiring to me as the big things that make headlines. Brendan Gallagher: The teachers and students that I have had the pleasure to work with throughout my career have been an inspiration. The commitment, dedication and resilience shown has always made me feel privileged to be part of the teaching profession.Max Hume: Dmitri Mendeleev. Jen Thomson: The entire chemistry department at Greenhead. They are amazing at what they do and there's not a day that's gone by since I started a year ago that I haven't learned something from one of them.

What motivates you?
Terry Mellor: Working as a technician in such a supportive and knowledgeable department makes me feel very valued. Supporting the teaching of nearly 1,000 chemistry students and seeing their journey gives me much pleasure and job satisfaction.Stuart Strathdee: Helping young people achieve things they didn't know they could do. It's brilliant when you see a student's confidence, knowledge and understanding blossom.Will Carver: Working in a team of brilliant professionals and chemists whose aim is to provide the best education and opportunities for the students that we teach. A large team has the power of scale and this in itself is motivating as the work we undertake has purpose. The team are constantly striving to improve and are inspirationally led.Paul Burnham: A desire to see students develop and succeed in chemistry by making the subject accessible.Ruth Farnell: The work we do has such a big impact on young people’s lives and futures. Looking back on what the students have achieved with the help of the team motivates me to keep pushing forward. Even the smallest thing we do to help a student can have an enormous effect.Brendan Gallagher: Helping and supporting students to achieve their potential motivates me.Kimberley Green: I do find the students motivate me a lot. Although quite a lot of the time their enthusiasm in lessons is a little low, when they understand a concept or solve a complex problem the excitement they have is infectious. I feel like 16–19 education is a really important stage as they are deciding what sort of career they wish to pursue and to be a part of that journey is really exciting. Jean Krol: Being part of such a great team and helping to provide the students with a wealth of resources.Tracey Underhill: Knowing that that doing ordinary things can create extraordinary outcomes. This has helped me in all aspects of my life especially when I may feel less motivated about doing something. Even small things that I do can build into someone or something else being created or improved. Max Hume: The 'penny dropping' moment/causing cognitive conflict.Becky Condon: In this work environment, knowing that I have contributed in a small way in helping the next generation of budding scientists motivates me. Jen Thomson: Being able to help students who are struggling. It’s a great feeling seeing them grow in confidence because it suddenly ‘clicks’. Chris Kneale: I work in a happy, very well organised and well equipped team. The students I teach are keen to learn. Being part of such a great team and the excellent results achieved are a strong motivating factor. I also have a very scenic commute over the Pennines.

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?
Richard Pember: Go for it! So much variety in terms of kinds of jobs, locations, etc.Challenging, evolving and critical for the future.Will Carver: Research, ask questions, get involved and take opportunities. Find out what you are interested in and what you would like to achieve and stick at it. Chemistry is rewarding and can provide opportunities and novel solutions to many problems.Kimberley Green: Do it! I've always found the subject really exciting and it only gets better as you carry it on. There are so many options when it comes to a career in chemistry and it's not always wearing a lab coat. The research areas going on currently in the UK cover a wide range of different areas, some you may not have realised actually required chemistry.Becky Condon: Ensure you research the profession you want to pursue in depth to understand what is involved and what qualifications you need and not to give up.Jean Krol: Chemistry is a fantastic subject to study, if you are prepared to work hard at it the career possibilities are endless.

What are the qualities that make your team special?
Terry Mellor: Dedication, great leadership, communication, collaboration and adaptability. But most of all the enthusiasm for teaching the next generations of chemists.Richard Pember: The people. All with a common goal to deliver a first-class product for the students in a caring, supportive environment, led by an exceptional teacher and manager.Ruth Farnell: Every single member is amazing and brings something special to the team. We are united with a clear vision to provide the best possible chemistry A-level experience to the students we teach. A-level chemistry is challenging, and students can become overwhelmed, but the team have created a department that is open and welcoming with students at the heart of everything they do. We are also good friends and that really helps to keep such a big team and department running smoothly.Will Carver: We have a big team that has a diverse background with a range of different expertise and experience. As a team we work to provide an outstanding education with extra opportunities for all. The team is special because we have the power of scale and can achieve in a short time what smaller team might take years to do. The team is led inspirationally, is exceptionally well organised and has purpose. Importantly, whilst we all care about the work that we do, the team also has a sense of humour and a sense of camaraderie. Paul Burnham: A hardworking and dedicated team leader who is knowledgeable and supportive. As a team we work collaboratively, sharing our differing expertise in a variety of fields in chemistry including professional industrial experience. We have a shared goal of providing a quality education for our students both in terms of academic study and also extra-curricular opportunities. Brendan Gallagher: The chemistry team at Greenhead College are supportive, caring, helpful, knowledgeable, hardworking and fun. Kimberley Green: As a group we are very supportive of each other. I came here as quite a new teacher and I have learned so much from everyone as my colleagues were there when I needed help teaching different topics. We always check on each other and as colleagues they are always ready to listen and help out if you have a problem. We are all working to the same goal, which is to ensure all students achieve their best. As we have the same goal it is really easy to work together. Tracey Underhill: Overall, the trust that we share in the team. This enables the skills, personalities, experiences, inventiveness, work ethics, personal qualities and many other attributes to shine through. Max Hume: We are a very large department. Considering its size, we all have similar views/approaches and get on really well. We all muck in offering our strengths to the 'whole', meaning the students get the sum of the very best, not just the sum of us. Ruth and Richard work immeasurably hard and by their very example we collectively strive to be our best.Becky Condon: All working towards the same goal with a caring and patient manner and a good sense of humour helps. Jen Thomson: They are all so knowledgeable and experienced, as well as being super supportive and willing to help. Chris Kneale: We have an excellent and very supportive Head of Department. Everything else cascades from there. We fully support each other and make full use of our areas of expertise. As well as our academic backgrounds, we have team members who have long teaching experience or extensive experience of working outside teaching.Jean Krol: The chemistry team is a great bunch of talented, hardworking and caring individuals with a huge amount of qualifications and experience. The best thing about the team is that everyone supports each other, and every member is valued equally.Michelle Millett: Enthusiastic, friendly and approachable staff with a wide variety of life and chemistry experience to support, guide and encourage students to achieve their best.

Can you tell us about a scientific development on the horizon that you are excited about?
Richard Pember: A fossil fuel-free society. I hope I'm around around to see the UK powered solely by renewables, and witness a chink of optimism in the global warming crisis.Terry Mellor: We have a huge new carbon neutral build in progress. It will provide seven teaching labs and other learning spaces for the students in chemistry and other sciences.Will Carver: I am excited about how science is improving our move towards greener technologies, for example the demand for lithium-ion batteries, which require lithium and cobalt, elements in short supply that are used to provide energy for laptops, tablets and phones. Often these are mined unethically. However, chemists are working on alternatives that could use sodium and carbon obtained from bio waste – a genius solution that could change how we store chemical energy. Paul Burnham: I find the concept of molecular machines fascinating. Research in this area has developed in the past 10 years or so and highlights the ingenuity and creativity of the multidisciplinary teams of scientists who work in this field, particularly chemists. It will be interesting to see how these materials might be utilised in real-world applications in the future.Tracey Underhill: The current research into rare diseases, in particular PURA syndrome, which was first recognised in 2014. The PURA Syndrome Global Epilepsy research project aims to learn how PURA seizures start, spread and stop, with a view to improving the lives of people with this rare disorder. Ongoing work in Denmark and input from scientists, patients and academic institutions around the world is very exciting. Chris Kneale: Anything we can do to minimise the impact of mankind on the planet. Chemistry has a big part to play in fixing this as well as being the major culprit.Michelle Millett: The research being carried out on Alzhemier's disease, especially with respect to early diagnosis and prevention.Jean Krol: The breakthrough in Alzheimer's treatment is hugely important and very exciting.

Why is chemistry important?
Richard Pember: Underpins both the biological and physical world around us. Has been central to improving quality of life for centuries. Is able to solve problems facing us currently and also in the future.Terry Mellor: Because chemistry is the core of all the sciences.Michelle Millett: Chemistry has an important role to play in tackling and resolving modern day global issues, from food shortages to environmental pollution and our current and future energy needs.Will Carver: Chemistry is important in everything that we do and is essential to life. We are all chemists, whether we know it or not.Ruth Farnell: Chemistry is everywhere around us and you can’t escape it. Chemistry has been improving the world around us (and perhaps upsetting it too) as far back as we have historical records. As we move into the future, chemists will be needed to innovate further and solve the problems we currently face and those we don’t yet know will come.Tracey Underhill: Chemical concepts are integrated into a multitude of everyday process and products. So many things have been made and improved for all life forms (human, animal and beyond). Chris Kneale: Succinctly – it underpins most other scientific disciplines.

What has been a highlight for you (either personally or in your career)?
Terry Mellor: I was successful in gaining the Science education and leadership (Science technician) qualification by the University of York, one of the first 10 technicians to do so, having been invited on the pilot scheme in 2011. I am very proud to have been awarded the Salters' National Chemistry Technician of the Year award in 2013.Will Carver: Visiting the antimatter factory at CERN in Geneva. The factory contained ELENA, a deceleration ring called the Extra Low ENergy Antiproton. This has enabled the scientists to trap antihydrogen (the opposite particle of matter to hydrogen), proposed by Paul Dirac in 1928. The scientists' aim at CERN was to test if the laws of physics and chemistry that apply to ordinary matter also apply to antimatter in the same way. Wow! Imagine having an Antiperiodic table.Paul Burnham: Being able to work with the University of Huddersfield in our Real World Chemistry initiative. This year the students produced high quality posters and delivered professional presentations describing the focus of the research. Opportunities like this are very rare for A-level students and it is a privilege to be able give our students a taster of academia.Jen Thomson: Getting my first thank you present from a student!Jean Krol: Joining the college and becoming part of the chemistry team, despite having no background or experience in chemistry prior to working here.

What has been a challenge for you (either personally or in your career)?
Will Carver: In 2017 I broke my ankle badly and had to have an operation to put in a metal plate and pins. This is currently still in my ankle (medical grade stainless steel – although, I would have preferred titanium). Subsequently, I have strengthened my ankle and through persistence and determination can now run further and faster than I could before. I took inspiration from the Japanese culture of mending broken objects. When a broken object is mended any cracks are filled with gold, the belief being that when a broken object is mended in this way, it has more history and worth than it had when it was new.Chris Kneale: When working in the chemical industry, spending too much time away from home. In retrospect I also regret the size of the carbon footprint I've generated. However I realise that my career before teaching has taken me to many places that I would not otherwise have visited.

How can good science education support solving global challenges?
Stuart Strathdee: Every young person needs a grounding in science to understand the causes of climate change and biodiversity loss and to appreciate the role that scientific and technological developments can play in reducing their severity. Scientific literacy is also needed to see through greenwashing and to play an active role as a citizen, making informed lifestyle choices and holding those in positions of power to account for their actions.Will Carver: Every young person needs a grounding in science to understand the causes of climate change and biodiversity loss and to appreciate the role that scientific and technological developments can play in reducing their severity. Scientific literacy is also needed to see through greenwashing and to play an active role as a citizen, making informed lifestyle choices and holding those in positions of power to account for their actions. [SAME QUOTE AS ABOVE - copy paste error?]Brendan Gallagher: A good science education helps us understand better the challenges faced in the world today. It allows access to opportunities that can help provide solutions to the issues faced globally, such as reducing pollution, combatting climate change, decreasing the use of fossil fuels, increasing sustainability and many more.Becky Condon: A good science education is the building blocks in pursuing different fields of science, and it is especially more important now, when the world is facing such issues as climate change. Chris Kneale: It needs to be better and more focused on our current global challenges.

How are the chemical sciences making the world a better place?
Stuart Strathdee: After millennia of exploiting natural resources and not truly considering the consequences there's now much more focus on doing things more sustainably. If we collaborate it's amazing what humans can achieve, but we need to do it now and not pretend chemistry can solve everything.Will Carver: Chemical sciences are providing a greater understanding of all life. It is through improving our understanding that we are able to develop medicines, improve diet and lifestyles that benefit us all.

Why do you think teamwork is important in science?
Will Carver: Teamwork is important in all aspects of life. This is true in all great things that have been achieved by humans, for example the discovery of the structure of DNA and NASA’s moon landings. Bees have understood this for 200 million years and have evolved as a highly successful supraorganism. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.Paul Burnham: Chemistry does not stand in isolation from other fields of innovation – teamwork is important for sharing of knowledge and expertise and to allow chemistry to be applied in new ways.Kimberley Green: Teamwork is a massive thing in the scientific world. Everybody has a role in order to achieve the bigger picture. In most scientific environments there are groups of people with specific roles working together to achieve a common goal. Tracey Underhill: As they say, 'We are more than the sum of our parts'. By team-working across disciplines and collaborating in teams we can overcome enormous hurdles. There are many examples of this, not least during the pandemic when team-working on many levels helped us make massive strides in technology, medicine, and manufacturing, to name but a few. Becky Condon: Teamwork is essential in making advancement in all fields of science, when all are working together towards the same goals. Jen Thomson: I think it's pretty much a no-brainer that science has to be collaborative; it's how progress is made.

For a bit of fun.
....What is your favourite element?Terry Mellor: Tellurium (Te) – Because it is the first two letters of my name and profession. Richard Pember: BismuthStuart Strathdee: CarbonWill Carver: Element number 6, carbon, is my favourite element. Carbon is the basis of all life on Earth. Carbon is tetravalent, giving it the ability to form four bonds with different elements simultaneously. This has enabled millions of different carbon-based compounds to be formed. Carbon atoms can be arranged differently in their elemental form so that different structures form, giving rise to allotropes of carbon such as graphite, diamond and fullerenes. I like that we are still finding new applications for the use of carbon because of how diverse it is. For example, Inov8, a trail running company based in the Lake District, are using graphene to infuse the rubber of trail running shoes to make the rubber extra sticky and extra durable. Paul Burnham: Lead (Pb)Brendan Gallagher: Potassium – The reactivity with water is a wonderful demonstration and one that I vividly remember from when I attended school. The ions have a lovely lilac flame colour and are required by all cells in the body to function.Kimberley Green: BoronTracey Underhill: GoldMax Hume: CaesiumBecky Condon: Krypton – only because it reminds me of Superman!Jen Thomson: Both of my children are big Spongebob fans so I'll say silver (Ag Ag Ag Ag Ag!).Chris Kneale: Tin. It has a many interesting aspects. Allotropes – not good if you are a polar explorer using cans made from the wrong allotrope to store supplies. It has very interesting organic chemistry – you can even use NMR to analyse some isotopes. Although tin cans have been used to safely store food, organotin compounds, though useful synthetic intermediates, are very toxic. They also have a very distinctive and unique smell. Finally tin 'cries' or 'screams' when you bend it!Jean Krol: I'll say hydrogen as the Sun couldn't shine without it, using a mind-boggling six hundred million tons per second.Michelle Millett: OxygenRuth Farnell: Liquid helium – it is quite literally the coolest element!