News

Dr Jonathan Hare helped students to build their own 'Bucky Ball' models.

Students from three local schools have taken part in workshops to celebrate the life and achievements of world-leading chemist and Nobel Prize-winner Sir Harry Kroto.

Forty-five Year 10 students from Felpham Community College (Bognor Regis), The Eastbourne Academy and Oriel High School (Crawley) visited the University between Monday 11 and Wednesday 13 June for day-long interactive workshops.

The workshops were organised by Widening Participation to give GCSE students support in their upcoming science exams in a key pathway subject. Nearly two-thirds of attendees said it would make them more likely to consider studying Chemistry in the future.

Dr Jonathan Hare led the workshops. Dr Hare, who completed his PhD at Sussex under the guidance of Sir Harry Kroto, has gone on to be one of the country’s leading science communicators. A core component of the workshops was making a model of a ‘C₆₀ Bucky Ball’ and learning more about its properties and structure.

Sir Harry Kroto was working at the University of Sussex when he and his team made a breakthrough that would change the fundamental understanding of chemistry.  Research by Kroto and his colleagues concentrated on the identification of carbon chains in the interstellar medium, leading to the discovery of the C60 molecule or Buckminsterfullerene.

Dr Hare commented: “I really enjoyed being with the students and it’s a real joy to be able to share Harry’s science with them. His work touched on many different areas, from astronomy to chemistry, physics to engineering, and so these workshops were a great chance to inspire young people with a whole range of subjects.”

In addition, Dr Hare leads Chemistry strands for Year 12 students on the Sussex Study Experience and the Post-16 Summer School, ensuring Sir Harry Kroto’s work continues to inspire as many young people as possible. He will also be at the University’s upcoming Community Festival on 24 June, where visitors will have the opportunity to build their own ‘Bucky Ball’.

The workshops last week were part of the University’s Widening Participation programme which works with a network of around 80 partner schools, colleges and charities in London and the South-East to improve access to higher education for people from under-represented backgrounds.

You can read more about this year’s Widening Participation academic events here.

Back to news list