York’s shampoo challenge heads to Glasgow
Posted on 29 July 2009
A team from the University’s Green Chemistry Centre, in collaboration with the Green Chemistry Network, will stage their ‘Protect the Planet: make the bubble bath of the future!’ interactive exhibition on 5 and 6 August as part of the Glasgow Science Centre’s Meet the Scientist series. The exhibition will feature an invitation to visitors to analyse and identify four different types of shampoo in the laboratory.
It will not only be lots of fun but it will give people a real insight into how we can protect the planet by using greener products
Professor James Clark
The shampoos are an environmentally preferable shampoo made from plant extracts, one made from oil derived ingredients, a gentler baby shampoo and a luxury shampoo.
The Shampoo Showdown will be introduced by cartoon frog, Fabs the Green Chemist, who has enthralled children since he was unveiled earlier this year at York Festival of Science and Technology.
The Director of the University’s Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence, Professor James Clark, said: “People taking part will be given clues to aid identification and they will be able to test their shampoos to see if they achieve the basic aim of shampoo – to make oil and water mix.
“Places are limited for this activity and people will only be able to sign up for it on the day. It will not only be lots of fun but it will give people a real insight into how we can protect the planet by using greener products. Our experts will be on hand to assist people with their analysis.”
Still on the bubbles theme and as a taster for the main activity, the centre’s researchers have formulated a special solution that allows them to make bubbles big enough to envelop a person.
There will be a prize draw on each of the days, with the winners receiving a £20 Boots voucher.
The ‘Protect the Planet: make the bubble bath of the future!’ project is funded by the Environmental and Physical Sciences Research Council in collaboration with Boots UK, and Glasgow and @Bristol Science Centres.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- The Green Chemistry Network is a not-for-profit organisation run from the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence at the University of York. It aims to promote awareness and facilitate education, training and practice of Green Chemistry in industry, commerce, academia and schools. www.greenchemistrynetwork.org
- Funding for this project has come from the EPSRC’s (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) Partnerships for Public Engagement (PPE) scheme and Boots.
- You can now follow Fabs the Green Chemist on Twitter at link http://twitter.com/FabsTheGC
- Glasgow Science Centre is a five star attraction, as awarded by Visit Scotland.
- Glasgow Science Centre is an educational charity whose mission is to promote science through thought provoking, fun and exciting experiences that inspire all to explore and understand the world around them.
- The Centre's science education programme is recognised for its quality by HMIE (Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education) and is curriculum linked which complements a Curriculum for Excellence (CfE).
- In the academic year 2007-2008, 52,631 pupils visited the Centre for inspirational science trips. In the same year, 29, 973 pupils enjoyed the Centre’s outreach programme in their own schools, in locations ranging from Kirkcudbright to Lerwick
- More information on Boots UK at www.boots-uk.com/