LABORATORY TOURS 

To develop a better understanding of chemistry by school children, one Local Section decided it might be useful to expose them to various kinds of chemical laboratories. The coordinator of these visits provided the following information. 

Organizational Details 

A letter was written to the Directors of all local active chemical laboratories in the Federal Government, the universities and private industry. The various institutions were requested to participate in National Chemistry Week by opening their laboratories to school students. 

Most laboratories responded quickly and it became clear that nearly all who were approached were willing to help. Laboratories were asked: 

1. the age group of students who would benefit from the tour; N.B.: All laboratories specified high school students.
2. the optimum size of the group.
3. a description of the activities of the laboratory.
4. most suitable time and day.

It was stressed that we did not wish to place excessive burdens on laboratories because we wished them to participate in National Chemistry Week again in future years. 

From the information assembled, a prospectus was drawn up and circulated to the scientific consultants of the various local school boards. It is best to do this before the summer vacation. It is also helpful to work through the Science Teachers' Association, as well as the science consultants. 

Teachers were asked to contact the coordinator who booked the tours on a 'first come; first served' basis. The coordinator kept in touch with the participating laboratories and apprised them of the schools and teachers involved, so that any detailed arrangements could be made between the teachers and the laboratories directly.  A follow-up with the teachers is important the week before the scheduled tour. 

After the tours, the laboratories were thanked for participating, and asked for their comments on how the tours might be improved.

 Results 

Of the 14 laboratories included in the program, 10 received visits and 62.5% of the available tour places were booked. During National Chemistry Week, 444 high school students from the region visited a chemistry laboratory. From the comments received from various laboratories, students and teaching staff,  the tours went very well.  

Another Local Section organized a series of tours to local industry open to high school students and the adult public. They advertised the tours in the city newspaper. The industrial tours basically followed the same organizational guidelines as the laboratory tours. 

One drawback mentioned is the fact that in both types of tours the hosts do not wish students who are younger than high school age to participate and they prefer to have small groups (10‑12). Make sure you ask about the suggested number and type of participants when approaching potential hosts. You could suggest that if a class is too large, one group can tour, while the other group attends a briefing and question period on the company or the laboratory.