Year 1 Chemistry students recently embarked on an inspiring residential trip to Oxford, immersing themselves in the world of university-level science and culture.
The visit began with a tour of the historic city, including museums, bookshops, and iconic streets, followed by attendance at the prestigious Autumn Chemistry Conference. Students were captivated by lectures from leading researchers Dr Shurui Miao and Dr Josef Boronski.
The group dined together at a local restaurant before staying overnight at Somerville College – alma mater of Nobel Prize-winning Chemist Dorothy Hodgkin, who famously uncovered the structures of insulin, penicillin and DNA, and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
The following morning, students enjoyed breakfast in Somerville’s grand dining hall before heading to Oxford University’s cutting-edge teaching laboratories. There, they took part in a hands-on Fragrance Chemistry workshop, synthesising esters and analysing them using advanced IR and NMR spectroscopy techniques.
This trip not only deepened students’ understanding of chemistry but also broadened their horizons and strengthened peer connections. A special mention goes to Molly Joyce, a former Huish Chemistry student who attended the 2024 Autumn Chemistry Conference and has now begun her undergraduate Chemistry studies at Oxford. During last year’s event, Molly assisted DPhil Calum Patel in demonstrating a novel solid-phase reaction – an experience that helped shape her journey to one of the world’s leading universities.