Analytical Science Community North East Region

Winner: 2023 Inspirational Committee Award

For the development and delivery of a major initiative in bringing chemistry to the public, in collaboration with Alnwick Garden, under the theme of 'Poisons in the Garden'.

Celebrate Analytical Science Community North East Region

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The team thoroughly enjoyed working with staff and volunteers at Alnwick Garden to deliver this chemical sciences event.

The North East Region Analytical Science Community is a group of colleagues, collaborators and relatives who worked together to achieve an outstanding outcome on a hot weekend in July 2022 to inspire the public on the role of plant poisons as part of an RSC Outreach project.

The North East Region Analytical Science Community developed and delivered a major initiative to bring chemistry to the public. ‘Poisons in the Garden’ was a collaboration with Alnwick Garden in Northumberland. Held over a weekend (8-10 July 2022), the event attracted over 2,200 visitors to the garden. A variety of unique fun resources to suit all ages were especially prepared for the weekend.

Short, pre-recorded presentations on four plants from the family Solanaceae (nightshade) gave visitors insight into their poisons and historic or fictional stories of their uses. A paper chromatography activity allowed participants to separate a series of compounds to introduce the concept of separation science. A pop-up sensory laboratory allowed participants to guess the plant type (all common kitchen herbs) by touch and smell, whilst blindfolded.鈥� One of the most popular activities for all ages was painting with cabbage.

The main legacy of the event was the development of four unique chemistry storyboards, based around the Teacup Poisoner, the Curry Killer, Doctor Death, and the Umbrella Murder. These storyboards will be used as part of the Alnwick Garden Drugs Education Programme and will reach thousands more young people in the coming years.

The team

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Samantha Bowerbank, Senior Chromatography Technician, Northumbria University
Rachael E. Dack, Senior Experimental Officer, Durham University
John R Dean, Professor of Analytical and Environmental Sciences, Northumbria University
Naomi R Dean, Teacher, Cockermouth High School
Craig Ellis, Climate Action Programme Manager, The Alnwick Garden
John Knox, Poison Garden Team Leader, The Alnwick Garden
Claire Mitchell, Strategic Head of Community and Education, The Alnwick Garden
Catherine Nicholson, Associate Professor in Applied Spectroscopy, Northumbria University
Matthew Reynolds, Apprentice Technician in Chemistry, Northumbria University
Graeme Turnbull Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Northumbria University
Lisa Winter, Wellbeing Project Support Officer, The Alnwick Garden

The team thoroughly enjoyed working with staff and volunteers at Alnwick Garden to deliver this chemical sciences event for the public based on the plants in the Poison Garden.