A Different Side to the Chemical Industry

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend this week’s OCCA session at the University of Salford, which consisted of a laboratory class followed by the opportunity to pitch and present a paint design to a panel of industry experts.

The laboratory class gave the students the opportunity to work in teams, as well as getting a first-hand experience of what it is like to work in the paints industry. During this session they learnt how to colour match paints, which they found more challenging than they had first imagined it would be.

Following the colour matching experience, the students then got to design their own paints. They worked together in teams to make an original paint design, in their choice of colour and preferred properties.

The seminar that followed the laboratory allowed the students to come up with a company name, calculate costings and outline the desired properties of their paint. They then pitched their unique paints to a panel of industry experts.

Upon conversing with my peers about their experience from this laboratory and seminar, I have found many students enjoyed having the chance to express their creative side, through being able to create unique paints and company ideas, as a chemistry degree doesn’t often allow for creativity. Most students also found the seminar to be an insightful experience, looking into manufacturing costs and learning valuable lessons about the business side of the chemical industry, which they could one day be applying in their future job roles.