Chemistry meet STEM learning at Brannel Secondary School

Pupils were introduced to the growing issues surrounding climate change, learning about the chemistry of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O), and their role in trapping heat within Earth’s atmosphere. They explored how human activities, like burning fossil fuels and agriculture, release these gases in large quantities, enhancing the natural greenhouse effect and driving global warming. The pupils were then tasked with helping a family make sustainable choices to minimise their carbon footprint, applying what they learned about the chemical reactions that produce greenhouse gases and the environmental impact of different compounds. This hands-on activity challenged them to think critically about chemistry's role in climate solutions and inspired them to consider how chemistry could help mitigate climate change in real-world contexts.