Top students have fun with chemistry at CPIT

Top students have fun with chemistry at CPIT

CPIT will be abuzz as high school students take on chemistry challenges this Thursday evening at the NZ Institute of Chemistry Year 11 Chemistry Competition.

Students selected from 13 schools from Christchurch, Rangiora and Kaikoura will attend the event this year. Competitors will complete a series of practical activities including analysing powders and clear solutions. This year they also have the challenging task of calibrating a thermometer, which is a routine procedure in a real working lab.

The competition is aimed at showing students that chemistry can be fun. CPIT chemistry lecturer David Hawke co-ordinates the event and is always excited to see young people enjoying the facilities at CPIT. “They work hard to be here and it is great to see them enjoying chemistry,” he said.

Hawke sees this year’s competition as particularly important given CPIT’s role in supporting and inspiring Canterbury students in what has been a challenging year. The year 12 and 13 competitions earlier in the year were either cancelled or postponed as the result of earthquakes. Hawke is pleased that the year 11 competition has been able to go ahead as planned. “Chemistry competitions for high school students have been held at CPIT for nearly 20 years and I’m excited to get them back on track after the earthquakes,” he said.

The competition will kick off with a briefing for students in the Rakaia Atrium at CPIT this Thursday evening at 6.45pm, followed by lab sessions in the science block. The winning students will receive certificates presented by CPIT at their schools.

ENDS

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