School of Chemistry TY Week 2026

1 Apr 2026

The School of Chemistry at University College Cork hosted a Transition Year (TY) Science Programme, bringing together 24 secondary school students from 18 schools across Cork and the wider Munster region.

The programme provided participants with a full day of immersive, hands-on laboratory experience, guided by academic staff, technical officers, and postgraduate researchers. Activities were designed to reflect the full breadth of modern chemistry, spanning six themed areas:

• Sustainability and Green Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Spectroscopy
• Organic Chemistry
• Batteries and Energy Storage
• Forensic Chemistry

All 24 students demonstrated outstanding enthusiasm and engagement throughout the day. Participants asked thoughtful questions, approached each experiment with curiosity and confidence, and responded positively to the university research environment. Feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive, with many students expressing interest in pursuing science at third level.

Professor Anita Maguire, Head of School said “the School of Chemistry was delighted to welcome the TY students to our labs to gain first-hand experience of Chemistry and see how it relates to the world around us. Their enthusiasm and engagement throughout the week were very impressive. Sincere thanks to all in the School who supported and enabled this TY week, especially to Dr Mohamed Sharafeldin who led out on the event on behalf of the School.’”