Our workshops are funded by Research Ireland (formally SFI) and are run by our trained science researchers. There is no cost to you thanks to the funding provided and we will arrange the workshop around your timetable where possible. Depending on your location and our availability, we can run workshop on campus or in your school. We always work with teachers to make CCI as accessible as possible. We have now closed our booking form and will only be prioritizing workshops with schools who have not received a CCI visit in the past.

Why are we doing it?

Although electrochemistry does not feature at primary or Junior Cycle level, it is now a prominent section of the new 2024 Leaving Cert (LC) Chemistry course. As the world becomes ever more reliant on energy storage technology and rapid analytical techniques (e.g. blood glucose), we need more electrochemists to match the rising demand for these technologies. Previously, electrochemistry was only a small section of the LC, so it became one of the most difficult topics for students to grasp. It was one of the least answered questions on exams, and those who attempted these questions score very poorly.

What is it?

The workshop is based on “Electro-Analytical Chemistry” where the topic of electrochemistry is subtly introduced through familiar chemical analysis techniques, linking with the current and future LC chemistry course. TY/LC students will need to figure out what happened to a fictional battery that went on fire by analyzing the electrolyte with a conductivity meter. The workshop contains plenty of lab skills like making standards, using pipettes, drawing a calibration graph, working out the unknown as well as theory like qualitative and quantitative analysis, ions in solution, electrolytes, ion-exchange etc. We will bring everything with us, including 10 conductivity meters so students can work in small groups. We have designed the workshop for a 1 hour timetable but we can extend it for a 80 min slot as well.

Who is it for?

This workshop is best suited for 5th and 6th Year Leaving Cert (LC) Chemistry students as well as Transition Year (TY) students. This workshop acts as an introduction to the difficult topic of electrochemistry by linking it with chemical analysis and other real-world topics that students are familiar with. This workshop provides real-world examples, hands-on experience and a jumping off point for your lessons as well as tangible role-models for your students. It also acts as a unique opportunity for students to use professional lab equipment and learn about the chemistry of batteries. Workshops are run by trained PhD Researchers who will happily talk to your students about their research and their day-to-day work. This interaction provides your students with locally based tangible role models as well as context for different parts of the curriculum, depending on the research areas being discussed.

Secondary School Workshop Booking Form

Submission of this form is not confirmation of a workshop booking. We will use your email and booking details to confirm all the necessary details before going ahead with the session. Once a date and time is confirmed we will arrange a team of PhD researchers to run your workshop. We hope these workshops will make electrochemistry a more interesting and engaging topic.

Current Chemistry Investigators Workshop Format:

All equipment, glassware and solutions will be provided by our team. There is no need for you to prepare anything beforehand! We only ask that you provide a projector and screen.
We would prefer to run this in a lab but we can also run this in a classroom/other space if needed, so long as we have access to a water supply and sinks nearby.
There will be a mix of powerpoint slides, hands on experimentation, discussion and careers talks, as well as interactive digital clickers for each student to provide feedback.
There will also be an open forum discussion with the researchers. We usually talk about career options, research, as well as college life. But all topics are welcome.

We suggest that you choose a date and time that suits your school timetable. The length of the session will vary depending on the number of questions and level of discussion etc. These workshops can be adapted for a 1 hour timetable or an 80min “double class” as well. We are flexible and will always work around your schedule.

BOOKING FORM NOW CLOSED