Blog

The ETG members’ blog is an area to share best practice, development of new educational techniques and prompt discussion about teaching in Chemistry at all levels. New blogs will be posted pe…

rscetg.wordpress.com

Supporting First-Year Chemistry Undergraduates in Data Analysis through a Gamified Excel Escape Room

Excel proficiency is a critical tool in undergraduate chemistry education, yet many students lack confidence in performing essential data handling and analysis tasks. To address student apprehension and encourage engagement with the software, this work reports the development of an Excel-based escape room. The activity is built entirely within the Excel environment, utilizing conditional formatting and password-protected sheets to create a self-contained, interactive learning experience without the need for external software or funding. The activity was trialed with a cohort of first-year undergraduate chemistry students. Participants reported positive shifts in their perception of Excel, noting increased confidence and a greater willingness to apply the software for complex tasks following the intervention. While direct skill acquisition requires longitudinal study, survey data suggests that gamifying the Excel environment can effectively lower the perceived barrier to entry for hesitant students. By embedding skill development within an exploratory framework, this model offers a scalable, adaptable tool for introducing digital literacy in the chemical sciences.

doi.org

From Code to Chemistry: Embedding Python in the Undergraduate Lab

By Dr Sam Perry, University of Southampton Sam Perry1,*      Derri Hughes1   1 School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Southampton *s.c.perry@soton.ac.uk                        …

rscetg.wordpress.com

Storytelling techniques in Chemistry

Bringing Chemistry to Life: Enhancing Foundation Year Learning through Storytelling By Dr Anas Alkayal, University of Surrey Anas Alkayal1,*      James Wright1  &…

rscetg.wordpress.com

Modular Integration of Python Programming in Undergraduate Physical Chemistry Experiments

Programming is a key transferable skill within the chemical sciences with applications supporting data acquisition, as a tool for chemical and spectroscopic analysis and as an environment for theoreti...

pubs.acs.org

Student perceptions of an open-source smart worksheet for automated student assessment and feedback built using python - Discover Education

Smart worksheets are an emerging educational technology that supports self-directed learning and provides targeted feedback on student assessment, while also reducing staff marking workload. However, their adoption may be limited by high cost, limited flexibility, and proprietary ownership. This study presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of an open-source smart worksheet developed using Python. This worksheet provides a flexible, interactive platform for performing calculations, analysing data, and receiving real-time feedback. It supports automated grading, dynamic content updates and graphical data analysis. Student feedback indicates high satisfaction with the worksheet’s ability to enhance conceptual understanding and streamline the analysis process, demonstrating that students perceive similar learning benefits to commercial alternatives. Importantly, its open-source nature ensures adaptability across academic disciplines, enabling its use in diverse educational contexts to support assessment, feedback, and self-directed learning.

doi.org

6th Commonwealth Chemistry Posters

The only chemistry posters event delivered by and for Commonwealth countries, it gives you the chance to engage with top chemists, to find potential collaborations and to network with your peers.

commonwealthchemistry.org

Modular Integration of Python Programming in Undergraduate Physical Chemistry Experiments

Programming is a key transferable skill within the chemical sciences with applications supporting data acquisition, as a tool for chemical and spectroscopic analysis and as an environment for theoreti...

doi.org

Using social media to connect cohorts

A digital poster competition that encouraged comments on social media can spark conversations between under- and postgraduate students. Here’s how it works

timeshighereducation.com

CHEP Festival 2025 - 8/9/10/14 July

Join colleagues at this year's CHEP Festival, 'Building the Future across the Triple Helix', that takes place from 8 July over 4 days.

eventbrite.co.uk

Electrodeposition of Thermoelectric Materials

Thermoelectric (TE) materials produce electrical energy when exposed to a thermal gradient. This review presents the opportunities of electrochemistry as a synthetic route for promising TE materials,...

doi.org

Escape Rooms in Education: Showcase - Learning and Teaching Academy

Escape Rooms in Education Showcase 2025 Conferences Chairs: Clare Thomson, Heriot-Watt University and Briyana Morrell, University of Indianapolis. We are thrilled to announce the Escape Rooms in Educ...

lta.hw.ac.uk

ErrantScience on LinkedIn: #cartoonabstract #rscposter #rscedu

Here’s a #CartoonAbstract made for Sam Perry’s #RSCPoster all about incorporating Bake Off challenge elements into chemistry teaching, go check out their…

linkedin.com

The ChemSoc Podcast: In Our Element

Podcast · Southampton Chemistry Society · Welcome to Southampton's ChemSoc Podcast: In Our Element! We chat to PhD students, undergraduates & lecturers about both life in chemistry and life beyond th...

open.spotify.com

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships

southampton.ac.uk

https://commonwealthchemistry.org/event/5th-commonwealth-chemistry-posters/

t.co

Commonwealth Chemistry Poster conference winners: Donna Hitlal

An interview with 2023 Commonwealth Chemistry Poster conference winner Donna Hitlal about her research on undergraduate chemistry education

commonwealthchemistry.org

What does it take to encourage students to use their voice?

The National Student Survey tells us students want their voices heard, but what if they don’t take up opportunities for feedback? Sam Perry looks at challenges of integrating student input (and wonder...

timeshighereducation.com