Valerie hosts Royal Society of Chemistry in Parliament to mark Science Week

To mark British Science week, I hosted an event with the Royal Society of Chemistry in Parliament on Wednesday 11 March. The event helped MPs understand the importance of chemistry and other sciences to the UK. I spoke with the Royal Society of Chemistry about the importance of chemistry in addressing challenges facing Walsall South and the whole of the UK.

MPs got hands-on with the experiments, which included making a pH indicator using red cabbage, creating a colour changing neutralisation reaction, and making polymer slime. But behind the colourful chemicals was an important message about the prevalence of chemistry in everyday life. It’s incredibly important to work with scientists so we can find the solutions to advance innovation and tackle pressing global challenges.

Sophia Mitchell and Dr Ian Gameson from Lab Tots, which teaches fun science to pre-schoolers, led a series of experiments designed to demonstrate everyday chemistry that you can carry out with easy-to-obtain ingredients.

The Royal Society of Chemistry are an international organisation connecting chemical scientists with each other, with other scientists, and with society as a whole. Founded in 1841 and based in London, they have an international membership of over 50,000. Lab Tots was founded in 2015 to enthuse the next generation of young scientists and start them off on an immense journey of discovery, breaking down barriers and stereotypes to inspire the next generation of scientists.