A-level Chemistry students at the College of West Anglia, were given the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the subject when Sarah Lynch from the University of East Anglia visited to deliver a guest lecture.
Sarah Lynch is a Foundation Year Lecturer in Chemistry at UEA’s School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, and is also part of UEA’s Education Research and Practice group.
The lecture introduced students to the structure and bonding in benzene, exploring how experimental evidence such as bond lengths, enthalpy of hydrogenation, and reactivity disproves the Kekulé model. As well as touching on the naming and reactions of benzene compounds, including electrophilic substitution, and compare the chemistry of benzene with phenol to highlight the effect of functional groups on reactivity.
Sarah said, ‘’It was a pleasure to visit the College of West Anglia and speak to the A-level Chemistry students. They were engaged, inquisitive and clearly passionate about the subject. Opportunities like this are so important in helping students see where chemistry can take them beyond the classroom, whether that is into higher education, research or a future career in science.”
Yousuf Bin Suhayl, Chemistry lecturer at the College of West Anglia said, “It was a delight to have Sarah from UEA give a guest lecture to our A-Level Chemistry students. It provided a fantastic insight into the learning style at university and was an excellent opportunity to revise old content with a fresh perspective. The students enjoyed the experience and gained valuable insight towards the university pathway after college.”
Her visit gave students the chance to hear from a university-level chemistry specialist, explore the subject beyond the classroom and gain valuable insight into what studying chemistry at a high level can look like. The session helped students make connections between their current studies and future progression opportunities in science.
By welcoming speakers from leading institutions such as the University of East Anglia, the College of West Anglia aims to give learners direct access to expertise that support their academic development and next steps. Whether this is higher level study, specialist training or a future career in science.