Chemistry web project to encourage potential applicants

An initiative to broaden iaccess to chemistry for post A-level students has been developed by a team of academic staff and students headed by Dr Karl Harrison, IT Co-ordinator and Training Officer at the University's New Chemistry Laboratory. With over 500,000 visits to the University Chemistry site each year, this on-line resource is seen as a way of challenging bright young students who wish to learn more prior to entering higher education. The site, which will be fully on-line by mid- July, will include: a virtual chemistry laboratory, which will enable students to take part in interactive experiments, and a Pre-University Chemistry Course, interactively encouraging students to gain a broad insight into chemistry. A discussion forum called `Ask Professor Hodgkin' will also become available, which will allow students to pose chemistry questions which will be answered by members of staff within the Department, and the site will also supply information about admissions to Chemistry at Oxford. A virtual tour encompassing the Department and the surrounding city of Oxford is also currently under constru-ction, which will allow visitors to explore the University. Funding for the initiative, which is one of several projects currently being undertaken by the University to broaden access, was received from HEFCE and the University Access Initiative. As of mid-July it will be possible to visit the site at http://www.chem.ox. ac.uk/access.