Chemistry/Physics: Journey to the Centre of the Atom – University Tutorial With Dr Tom Anderson From The University of Sheffield

In this live interactive tutorial for Chemistry and Physics students, we will be joined by Dr Tom Anderson, a leading university academic from The University of Sheffield, who will guide us on a Journey to the Centre of the Atom.

The full context/introduction to this live and interactive discussion is provided by Sheffield in a Headliner recorded resource (see below) which offers insights into the key academic research and debate related to this fascinating topic. This recording can be watched as a class activity or independently in preparation for the discussion and develops the points below:

A century ago, many people did not even accept the existence of atoms. Nowadays we cannot imagine the world without them. Yet even today, many of our everyday ideas about the structure and behaviour of the atom are often flawed and inaccurate. Join Dr Tom Anderson for this event in which we will uncover the quantum basis for atomic mysteries together, and learn the chemical and physical foundations of the particles which make the world we live in a reality. From 15-inch shells bouncing off a piece of tissue paper to ‘the music of the Spheres’, learn how there is much more to the atom than ‘it’s like a mini Solar System’.

The session aims to deepen students’ understanding of the topic whilst enabling them to access and experience a live online university tutorial.

The Headliner recording is below.

Lecturer Profile (Please Click): Dr Tom Anderson is a Teaching Fellow at the University of Sheffield’s Department of Chemistry. He obtained his PhD at the University of Cambridge in 2011, working under Professor Jeremy Sanders in the field of supramolecular chemistry research. In 2020 he delivered the RSC’s Christmas Lecture for the Sheffield region to an online audience of 14 schools. He is also a published author of fiction in his spare time.

Our events are designed so that a group of students can take part from a classroom, or students and teachers can take part as individuals, either from school or from home. This means that sessions will continue irrespective of possible school closures.

As a live, participative event, this session will not be recorded but access to the Headliner recording will continue to be accessible.

Suitable for: Key Stage 5 students, or equivalent, studying Chemistry and/or Physics. It is potentially suitable for the most keen/able GCSE students who have read ahead although not the majority. In this case, taking part is at the discretion of their teacher. Teachers and members of school staff, as always, are welcome too and participants can join as individuals from school/college or home, or as a group from school/college.

Preparation/Pre-Reading: Students are asked to watch the Headliner recording and consider some of the key issues.

The IT Setup: The event will be run on Bluejeans and participants will be able to join using laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. If you are joining as a school group, we recommend connecting with one device and projecting on to a whiteboard. You will be able to interact with the university via a microphone and/or typed comments and questions. Full details will be sent to those who have registered (see below) prior to the event.

Booking a Place: This is free for schools and colleges. If you would like to take part in this event, please register your interest using the link to the registration form below: