Pops, bangs and spontaneous combustion were experienced by primary school children and their parents when they attended the World of Chemistry event at Stewards Academy. Five aspects of chemistry were on display in the labs: ‘Plastics and Polymers’, ‘Fire’, Food Chemistry’, ‘Kitchen Chemistry’ and a ‘Who Done It’ forensic activity featuring the Simpsons. The children could try their hand at many chemistry experiments: making custard bouncy balls, comparing the voltage output from different fruit batteries, watching screaming jelly babies, ‘ money to burn’, exploding film canisters, self- inflating balloons, finger printing and chromatography to name just a few. The labs were filled with smoke, explosions and sweet and sour smells that reminded the primary school parents of their chemistry lessons when they were at school. A touch of ‘all our yesterdays’ with a modern twist.

A visiting parent said: ‘It was a fantastic evening. There were enthusiastic and knowledgeable teachers and articulate, polite students providing a huge variety of interactive fun, ‘pop’ science activities that were guaranteed to gain the children’s interest.’