On 27th November 2017 more than 150 chemistry students and staff, past and present, came to Sheffield Hallam University to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its first chemistry degree.
Chemistry teaching at Hallam began because of a need for skilled chemists for Sheffield’s steel and engineering industries. Expansion of higher education in the late 1960s led to institutions such as Sheffield College of Technology, the fore-runner of today’s modern university, developing degree courses to equip students with applied technical and analytical skills.
That tradition has been maintained and our chemistry graduates find jobs in a host of industries and professions, not just the chemical industry, but healthcare, food, pharmaceuticals, teaching and research.
To mark the anniversary, all chemistry students and staff, past and present, were invited to a keynote presentation and panel discussion on the future of chemical sciences led by Professor Sir John Holman. The panel members consisted three chemistry alumni; Dr Jackie Morton, now a Principal Scientist working at the Health and Safety Laboratory in Buxton, Dr Tony Bristow, a Principal Scientist at Astra Zeneca in Macclesfield and Professor Gillian Greenway, Head of the School of Mathematics and Physical Sciences at the University of Hull. There were joined by Professor Neil Bricklebank, Professor of Chemistry at SHU and Cameron Heaton, who is just starting a PhD here having previously completed his BSc Chemistry at SHU and worked for a couple of years for TATA steel.
Professor John Holman (pictured), the president of the Royal Society of Chemistry, said chemistry is set to play a huge part in the future of the UK’s productivity during his key note presentation “Chemistry gives us new things that are vital to our own lives and the future. Chemistry drives life sciences, chemistry drives advanced materials and if we want to be at the forefront of innovation in the United Kingdom then we have to do it through chemistry”.
He added: “I couldn’t be more delighted to be at Sheffield Hallam University to celebrate this anniversary. Why? Because it’s a landmark for chemistry, not only in this University but it marks a rebirth of chemistry here. Secondly, I’m an honorary graduate of Sheffield Hallam and thirdly, I’m just such a big fan of the way this University does things so I’m really pleased to be here today.”
The event was also attended by the director of the Office for Fair Access, Professor Les Ebdon, a former chemistry lecturer at Hallam and also included tours of the University’s new chemistry teaching laboratory, part of the recently opened £11million Hertha Ayrton STEM Centre.
Earlier in the day, Jackie Morton, Tony Bristow and Gillian Greenway had taken part in a seminar for existing students describing how their time at SHU had launched them on their successful career paths, providing inspiration and confidence for our students
Head of the University’s Biosciences and Chemistry department, Professor Susan Laird, said: “This anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on the past and look forward to the future.
“It was fantastic to see so many alumni reuniting with old friends and their lecturers as well as seeing our current students sharing their experiences and taking part in debates around the future of chemical science.
Professor Laird added: “Although the ethos of chemistry remains, the staff and students of 50 years ago have been amazed by the standard of the facilities in our STEM laboratory, one of the newest chemistry teaching labs in the UK, which demonstrates the commitment of Sheffield Hallam University to the advancement of chemistry education.”
