The annual festival which was hosted by the School of Life Sciences at the University’s Luton campus, gave young pupils from seven schools including, All Saints Academy (Dunstable), Challney High School for Girls (Luton) and St Thomas More Catholic School (Bedford), the opportunity to spend a day in the university’s department and participate in practical chemistry activities.

The one-day programme was based on two main challenges for the young scientists; a University chemistry experiment and a Salters’ forensic challenge – both of which awarded winning teams with prizes and all participants with certificates.

Portfolio leader for School of Life Sciences, Dr Bushra Ahmed, who has been organising the Salters’ Festival at the University of Bedfordshire for 14 years, said: “We are always happy to welcome the local school children to our labs and allow them to explore the possibilities of working in the field of chemistry and forensic science. The children really enjoyed being able to do all the work themselves. I hope we have inspired the next generation of scientists. ”

Salters’ Festivals are a series of one-day fun events held at universities throughout the UK and Ireland. They begin in mid-March and run through to the end of June.

The Salters' Festivals of Chemistry are an initiative of the Salters' Institute, whose aim is to promote the appreciation of chemistry and related sciences amongst the young.