A group of 20 Science students from St Aloysius' College Sixth Form, Birkirkara, recently attended a three-day Chemistry summer camp organised by Bristol Chem Labs, the only HEFCE CETL centre of excellence in teaching and learning in Chemistry in England and Wales, in collaboration with Trinity College, Dublin.

Bristol University's eight-storey School of Chemistry is equipped with the latest machinery and techniques and has a dazzling reputation. During the last scholastic year alone it attracted over 30,000 students, ranging from pupils to Ph.Ds.

The students engaged in various sessions of Chemistry practical work using apparatus and materials not normally available in school labs due to their cost and sophistication.

They tasted what it feels like to be an undergraduate student at a foreign university, enjoyed evening entertainment on campus and a visit to the lovely town of Bath.

During their stay at Trinity College, Dublin, the students attended lectures by researchers working with global pharmaceutical companies and discussed prospective future careers with Ph.D. students.

Tim Harrison from Bristol Chem Labs will be in Malta later this month to discuss possible similar future activities. To arrange a meeting, e-mail him on: T.G.Harrison@bristol.ac.uk. For further information on the centre, view www.chemlabs.bris.ac.uk.

Mr Schembri is science co-ordinator for Church schools.