Hallam secures grant to increase diversity in chemistry researchers

16th August 2021

Academics at Sheffield Hallam University have secured £19,000 funding for a project to increase participation in chemistry research.

The Chemistry for All outreach grant, from the Royal Society of Chemistry, will be used to increase awareness of chemistry research as a career by engaging secondary school students (KS3 and KS4) in a bespoke chemistry research project, built around the study of metals in soils, and the environmental effect of these metals.

Sheffield Hallam University students will work alongside the secondary students by engaging them with school activities as well as undertaking further research on the schools’ soils samples within the Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre at the University.

The university students will also work within the Accessibility of Science Research group to evaluate the impact of the research project on the visibility and accessibility of chemistry research in school students.

The project will allow Sheffield Hallam University students to be science role models, inspiring the next generation of chemists at schools across Sheffield and the surrounding area.

Mel Lacey, senior lecturer in the department of Biosciences and Chemistry, will lead the project which gets underway early next year.

Mel said: “We are delighted to receive this Chemistry for All grant from the Royal Society of Chemistry. This soil chemistry research project will be undertaken with students from ethnic minority backgrounds and under privileged areas and will be completed with the help of our undergraduate students.

“We are excited to see the impact on school students taking part in this research and see it breaking down barriers to study chemistry. We look forward to showcasing chemistry and how it links to other areas of science.”