Periodic Table comes alive for Chemistry Week Published on: 20 November 2019 Â鶹´«Ã½ is lighting up in support of Chemistry Week which is this year celebrating the International Year of the Periodic Table. The eye-catching display will see the Periodic Table come alive across the campus as Â鶹´«Ã½ joins 11 other leading universities across the UK and Ireland to highlight a serious issue – the threat to a growing number of elements through a lack of recycling old tech devices. Research carried out by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) in a recent Ipsos MORI survey, found that 51% of UK households have at least one unused electronic device – such as mobile phones, computers, smart TVs, MP3 players or e-readers – and 45% have up to five. Of these, 82% have no plans to recycle or sell on their devices after they fall out of use. However, these abandoned electronics lying forgotten at the back of drawers harbour precious elements that are at risk of running out. Now, chemistry and chemical scientists from universities spanning Southampton to St Andrews have a crucial role to play in identifying new solutions, both in finding alternatives to these rare elements where possible, and in finding new, more effective ways to extract elements from used devices and recycle them. Discovery and exploration Dr Nick Walker, a Senior Lecturer at Â鶹´«Ã½ and member of the RSC Faraday Division Council, said: “Â鶹´«Ã½ researchers exploit chemistry for the design of new materials, the discovery of new drugs and the exploitation of energy. "Our students become part of a broad, thriving community of student, academic, industrial and other local chemists here in Â鶹´«Ã½ while having the chance to study all over the world.” 150 years of the Periodic Table As Black Friday deals and the festive season approaches, the sales of new tech devices are expected to spike, prompting the Royal Society of Chemistry to encourage people to reuse their old devices, recycle them or donate them to recycling charities. Robert Parker, CEO of the Royal Society of Chemistry said: “This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Mendeleev Periodic Table of Elements. Now, over a century and a half later, many of the elements discovered are in critical danger of running out. “We’re really pleased to have the support of some the UK and Ireland’s leading institutions in bringing the importance of the message to life – literally highlighting the responsibility we have in ensuring our old devices are properly recycled. “In the future, they could be needed for other technologies that we haven’t even discovered yet – for health, green energy, treating pollution and more.” The RSC hopes the drive will highlight the urgent need for a Right to Recycle bill to be introduced for tech waste, making it quick and easy to dispose of unused devices. The universities lighting up are Â鶹´«Ã½ (18 Nov), Northumbria (19 Nov), University of East London (19 Nov), Keele (20 Nov), Edinburgh (20 Nov), Middlesex (21 Nov), Manchester Metropolitan (21 Nov), Trinity College Dublin (21 Nov), St Andrews (21 Nov). Share: Latest News Volunteers help turn Whitley Bay beach into maths experiment Members of the public joined mathematicians from Â鶹´«Ã½ to create what organisers believe is the largest aperiodic tiling ever attempted on Whitley Bay beach. published on: 15 June 2026 Student leader drives misogyny law change A Â鶹´«Ã½ student leader has helped change the law after creating a petition to make misogyny a hate crime, which gathered over 114,000 signatures, prompting action in Parliament. published on: 12 June 2026 Freemen of Â鶹´«Ã½ see construction of new Castle Leazes The Freemen of Â鶹´«Ã½ and other key stakeholders have become an indelible part of new student accommodation at Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s Castle Leazes. published on: 12 June 2026 Facts and figures
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