On Wednesday 5 October the Science Department welcomed Dr Joanna Buckley, from the University of Sheffield, to give a Junior Science lecture to our Lower Fifth pupils. Our pupils were joined by Year 9 pupils from King’s School Bruton and Leweston School who also enjoyed this informative and interactive lecture. As part of the Sherborne Girls Outreach programme, to promote Science throughout the local community and schools, Dr Buckley also gave the lecture to the Year 9 pupils of The Gryphon School in Sherborne earlier in the morning.
Dr Joanna Buckley has been a lecturer at the University of Sheffield for several years. In addition to being a lecturer, she has also been doing a great deal of outreach work for the Royal Society of Chemistry and been a consultant for the BBC regarding educational scientific programmes for school pupils. Dr Buckley has presented on numerous radio broadcasts and written publications for the Times Newspaper, the Chemistry World and PBS America to name but a few. She is passionate about Chemistry and how it is central to our way of life and the lifestyle we enjoy whilst it will also help us to shape a better and brighter future.
The initial part of her presentation took a look at her own personal experiences in the world of Chemistry and how, despite being a Music Scholar at her school – Worksop College, she chose to embark upon a degree, and subsequent career in Chemistry, after being inspired by one of her Chemistry teachers.
During the second part of her presentation Dr Buckley explained, with examples, her research into the Chemistry of food and taste. She explained that by analysing the chemicals in food, it is possible to create delicious food combinations which would normally not be considered; a breakfast of Weetabix with baked beans may taste better than what people may initially think. Other great delicacies could be pizza and Nutella or perhaps even peanut butter and tomato. She has applied this scientific research and has been recently working with a Michelin Star chef to create some surprising taste sensations by cooking together food combinations which may not traditionally have ever been considered.
On the final part of the lecture Dr Buckley explained how Chemistry can solve the problems of today and the future and to question what is conveyed in the media. For example, plastic bottles are much better for the environment than glass bottles, despite what you may be encouraged to believe by the media. Furthermore, the development of new clothes fibres and synthetic leathers which are made out of the unused remnants of grapes, bananas and oranges will help preserve the earth resources, alongside giving the clothes industry the raw materials, they require.
The lecture was concluded with a number of insightful and interesting questions from the assembled audience.
Mr Antonio Angelosanto, Head of Science
