High school students from 12 schools from Glasgow and surrounding areas will enjoy a fun-filled day of chemistry at the Salters' Festival of Chemistry to be held at The University of Glasgow on Thursday, 27 May 2004. Each school will be represented by a team of four S1 pupils.

During the morning teams will take part in a competitive, hands-on, practical activity, "The Salterstown Mystery" in which they will use their analytical chemistry skills. In the afternoon, they will compete in the "University Challenge", a practical activity chosen by the University, in which they will be required to solve practical chemistry problems. This will be followed by a fun lecture, by Steve Brindley involving chemistry demonstrations entitle "Chemical Cauldron"

The day will end with a prize giving at which the winning teams will be awarded cash prizes for their schools and all participants will be given individual fun prizes and participation certificates.

The Salters' Festivals of Chemistry are an initiative of The Salters' Institute, whose aim is to promote the appreciation of chemistry and related sciences among the young. The Festival at The University of Glasgow is one of a series of forty-seven festivals which are taking place at Universities throughout the UK and Ireland between March and June 2004.

The Festival at The University of Glasgow in association with SETPOINT Scotland.

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

Dr Bob Hill, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Glasgow Tel: 0141 330 5951 Email: B.Hill@chem.gla.ac.uk or the University of Glasgow Press Office Tel: 0141 330 8593.

First published: 26 May 2004