CURRICULUM// PSYCHOLOGY & CHEMISTRY
PSYCHOLOGY
SOCIETY
Throughout the school year, Psychology
Society has taken place every other
Friday lunchtime for A level psychology
students as well as those with a general
interest in the subject. Although it has
been predominantly organised by the
Psychology Prefect, a mixture of both
lower and upper sixth students have
taken on the challenge of finding an
area of psychology they are particularly
intrigued by and creating a short
presentation into theories and research
surrounding that area.
As can be expected, there were a
wide variety of topics discussed over
the weeks. Our first presentation was
focused on the neurology behind our
emotions – in particular the biology
of happiness – and why certain things
make us happy. Charlotte Austin, an
upper sixth student, conducted an
engaging talk on the psychology behind
advertising, focusing specifically on
brand loyalty by comparing Coca-
Cola to Pepsi while Oli Rayner,
another upper sixth student, talked us
through the psychology of lying. Other
highlights of the Society were a look at
first impressions and how to overcome
them (especially relevant for those
students with university interviews!), a
list of the most unethical psychological
research and understanding why ethical
guideline mean they could never be done
again as well as a seasonally-appropriate
presentation by lower sixth students
Amy Johns and Lizzie Howie titled the
“The Twelve Days of Research” which
took us through Christmas themed
psychological studies.
In between Psychology Society
meetings, Charlotte Austin and I ran
drop-in help sessions for lower sixth
students to hopefully pass on our
revision wisdom and explain any topic
areas causing confusion or difficulty.
Thank you to anyone who attended
either of the sessions and a huge thank
you to anyone who got involved!
Georgia Robson
Each team has to work closely together in order to solve a
series of problems, which this year proved to be twelve different
chemical puzzles, with only 5 minutes allowed for each! Points
are awarded for the team`s progress with each puzzle, and a
total points accumulated!
Ewan, Josh, Sophie and Ben worked really well together
(especially since Sophie and Ben were relative strangers to
each other and to Josh and Ewan!), and enjoyed grappling
with the different challenges, which took place at a furious
pace for over an hour of non-stop activity!
“TOP OF THE BENCH”
ROYAL SOCIETY OF CHEMISTRY COMPETITION 2018
As a Chemistry Department, we have for many years entered
a team at the regional stage of the RSC “Top of the Bench”
Competition, which this year was on Monday 22nd January at
the University of York, Chemistry Department.
Each School is represented by four pupils, two 3rd years, a
4th year and a 5th year. This year we were well represented
by Ewan Robson, Josh Thornton, Sophie Anderson and Ben
McNamara.
There was a tense atmosphere as the points for each exercise
were divulged one-by-one, with Schools continuously swopping
their overall positions as the tally increased! At one point we
were in the top three, but eventually finished an overall 8th out
of 13 Schools – with the points being quite close together.
Well played and many thanks to Ewan, Josh, Sophie and Ben,
who threw themselves into the tasks with great enthusiasm. It
was much fun, and our four Chemists were of course super
ambassadors for the School.
On the drive back to School, even though it was now too late
to stop for a pizza, we all thought that there could be a “House
Chemistry” competition alongside the same lines….!?
Doc Dyson
THE POCKLINGTONIAN
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