Cambridge Chemistry Challenge for Lower Sixth at St Catharine's

On the 25th August St Catharine’s welcomed a group of 26 A-level students to the College to take part in a residential chemistry course in recognition of their achievements in this year’s Cambridge Chemistry Challenge for Lower Sixth.

Set by an experienced team of teachers and university chemists, the challenge aims to test the knowledge of students interested in chemistry. Although it is accessible to those in year 12, it takes them significantly beyond the syllabus and encourages them to think about science in the way they would at university, providing them with an excellent experience for their future studies.

Over 7000 students from around 500 schools took part in this year’s competition. Of those, 36.4% received a copper award, 14.8% received a silver award, and 7.7% received a gold award. The Roentgenium award (named after the element below gold in the Periodic Table) was given to the top 0.78% of students, with the highest mark being 65 out of a possible 68. The Roentgenium award winners then came to St Catharine’s and a spent a weekend in the labs of the University’s Chemistry Department on Lensfield Road attending lectures and practicals, as well as getting an insight into life as a student at the University of Cambridge.