University of St Andrews

To mark one of the greatest achievements in science, 150 years ago, come and celebrate the International Year of the Periodic Table.

Enjoy a day of interactive chemistry activities, engaging public talks and live music, plus the chance to see the oldest periodic table in the world, discovered right here in St Andrews. Take a fascinating journey through history and explore various Periodic Tables on display including:
• the oldest known published periodic table wallchart
• the European Chemical Society’s new version of the Periodic Table
• the world’s only macramé periodic table made up from 200,000 knots

Families can also enjoy an array of tabletop chemistry experiments, providing children with a fun introduction to the Periodic Table of Elements, and hear the first performances of new music by Nicole Murphy and Robin Haigh.

The Periodic Table Events

10.45am and 2pm – M Pilar Gil talks about the world’s oldest published periodic table wallchart accompanied with music by Mendeleev’s friend and fellow chemist Alexander Borodin.

11.30am and 3pm – Professor David Cole-Hamilton talks about the European Chemical Society’s new version of the Periodic Table featuring endangered elements, interspersed with the first performances of music composed to illustrate it by Nicole Murphy and Robin Haigh, given by the St Andrews New Music Ensemble, directed by Bede Williams.

1pm – Local school children perform The Periodic Table to the tune of the can-can from Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld. The performance is followed by an awards ceremony for winners of the primary school poster competition for the Periodic Table.

4pm – Enjoy a performance of Tom Lehrer’s iconic song of the elements by local St Leonards pupil, Kit McCarthy, accompanied by Rebecca Clulow.

Book tickets to the special events on the Byre website.