UK chemist to light up the stage

24 June 2015

UK chemist to light up the stage (and uncover shampoo’s secrets)

Audiences around New Zealand will soon get the chance to learn about the chemistry of two items they use daily: lighting, including the glow from today’s smart phones, and shampoo.

Dr Peter Wothers is being brought to New Zealand by the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry as part of the International Year of Light celebrations, in partnership with the Royal Society of New Zealand, Massey University, Victoria University of Wellington, the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, and the UK’s Royal Society of Chemistry.

The Chemistry of Light Show will literally light up the stage in both Wellington and Palmerston North. This action-packed, family-friendly demonstration lecture explores the chemistry used over the centuries in mankind's quest to find light — from the earliest uses of oil lamps to the more exotic elements used in today's latest electrical devices. It will even show how chemical light helps forensic scientists investigate crime scenes. There will be plenty of flashes and bangs to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Dr Suzanne Boniface, Senior Chemistry Teaching Fellow at Victoria University of Wellington and organiser for the Chemistry and Biology Teachers’ Conference that Dr Wothers will be presenting at, says it is a real privilege for New Zealand audiences to get to hear Dr Wothers.

“Peter is known internationally for his demonstration lectures and for promoting chemistry to young students and members of the public. He gave the UK’s Royal Institution Christmas Lectures in 2012, which are hugely popular, and was awarded an MBE for Services to Chemistry last year. It’s a real honour that he is coming to New Zealand to share his passion for chemistry.”

Victoria University of Wellington is holding a special session of the demonstration lecture for secondary students as part of its science outreach programme.

As well as the demonstration lecture, Peter Wothers will be giving public talks about the composition of everyday shampoo in Wellington, Palmerston North and Auckland. This lively talk will explore the often-convoluted history behind the names of the ingredients. What connects a urinating camel to a spiral fossil? What was the significance of a birthing rat? How did Egyptian eyeliner end up making us drunk, but amethyst kept us sober? In which brands of shampoo can you find "Fooles Bolloxe and "beaver testicles "? This talk guarantees you will never look at a bottle of shampoo in quite the same way again.

Royal Society of New Zealand Chief Executive Dr Andrew Cleland encourages parents to take their children along to the demonstrations and public talks. “It’s an ideal opportunity for young people to gain an appreciation of the wonders of chemistry and science from one of the world’s best educators.

“The Royal Society of New Zealand is very pleased to be part of the partnership bringing Dr Wothers to New Zealand audiences.”

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