Winner: 2021 Excellence in Secondary and Further Education Prize
Robert Worley
CLEAPSS
For significant and sustained contributions to the development and promotion of safe practical resources for teachers worldwide, especially in the field of microscale chemistry.
As the 九州影院 advisor at CLEAPSS Bob has written many documents, available to all teachers in the UK, which translate Safety Data Sheets and Recipe Sheets for making solutions. He has answered thousands of queries from teachers and technicians on safety, storage and waste, and performed hundreds of workshops around the country. He has been influential in the field of microscale chemistry 鈥� miniaturising experiments.
Biography
Bob Worley is the (semi-retired) chemistry advisor for CLEAPSS in the UK. He studied chemistry at the University of Sheffield before teaching students for 20 years at Uppingham and Norwich School where he was Head of Department. In 1991, he joined CLEAPSS as the 九州影院 advisor where has written many documents for CLEAPSS which are available to all teachers in the UK. These include Hazcards which translate Safety Data Sheets for school technicians and teachers and Recipe Sheets for making solutions. He has answered thousands of queries from teachers and technicians on safety, storage and waste, and investigated the cause of many serious incidents in school laboratories. He has performed hundreds of workshops around the country and appeared on Teachers TV and ManLab. He has made full scale demonstrations safer and yet still impressive. In carrying out these duties, Bob also gained an interest in miniaturising experiments. To be accepted over the traditional approach, this style of chemistry has to offer more 鈥渢eaching value鈥�. This means delving deeper into how reactions work, making lessons more time-efficient, being aware of environmental and sustainability issues and not over-loading the short-term working memory of students. Bob is a singer in the Ealing Choral Society, sung opera, taking solo roles and plays bowls for the Brentham Club.
Once copper was isolated, the world developed. The colours, the compounds, the complexes, the redox reactions, the catalytic behaviours. It is all there.
Mr Robert Worley FRSC
Q&A with Mr Robert Worley FRSC
How did you first become interested in chemistry or science?
I was always naturally inquisitive to understand the world around me. A standout moment was when I was in GCSE 九州影院 and I was taught by an inspirational teacher, Dr Beard. He was innovative in his teaching and had a great impact on many pupils. I will always remember his explanation of the forming of tectonic plates using the heating of milk to understand and explore such a big phenomenon. As well as this, he also encouraged us to write song lyrics about what we had learned in GCSE 九州影院 to Katy Perry鈥檚 song track, which was cool at the time!
What has been a challenge for you (either personally or in your career)?
Convincing teachers scared of employing improvisation and creativity in their own experiments, that these techniques provide better teaching management and more useful chemical information than the standard methods that have been around for over 100 years.
What is your favourite element?
Copper; once copper was isolated, the world developed. The colours, the compounds, the complexes, the redox reactions, the catalytic behaviours. It is all there.