Event history and rationale
Launched in 2017, initially under the title of Girls into Chemistry (GintoChem). The Centre for Chemical Sciences at the University of Plymouth are delighted to be hosting our forth STEM event directed at GCSE level students identifying as female with an interest in chemistry related careers.
We invite students from Year 9 who have an interest in studying chemistry, environmental and physical sciences at GCSE and beyond to attend. Applications should be made via your teacher, using the register your interest link below. Since places are limited, we can generally accept a maximum of 15 students per institution and request a minimum of one teacher to attend with each group of 15.
This year we have re-branded the event as GenChem in acknowledgement of the diversity of students that may be wishing to attend and invite expressions of interest for our 2022 event which we are hoping to run on the 9 June 2022.
The format includes talks with two inspiring women working in chemistry related roles. These have included staff from within the University other academic institutions, industry and the RSC 175 Faces of Chemistry.
The event was initiated principally by Dr Alison Turner and Dr Hayley Manners, both members of the school’s chemistry staff and equality, diversity and inclusivity committee and members of the RSC. This is to showcase our chemistry courses and to address a shortfall in female students taking up chemistry against the national benchmark and an overall gender gap in STEM subjects. The School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences and its technical team kindly provided the staff time and laboratory resources. The Royal Society of Chemistry’s local division and Analytical division supported the event and a big thank you to them and in particular.
