Sam Perry

Thanks very much!! Sounds like a great opportunity, looking forward to discussing more! 💪

Supporting First-Year Chemistry Undergraduates in Data Analysis through a Gamified Excel Escape Room Excel proficiency is a critical tool in undergraduate chemistry education, yet many students lack confidence in performing essential data handling and analysis tasks. To address student apprehension and encourage engagement with the software, this work reports the development of an Excel-based escape room. The activity is built entirely within the Excel environment, utilizing conditional formatting and password-protected sheets to create a self-contained, interactive learning experience without the need for external software or funding. The activity was trialed with a cohort of first-year undergraduate chemistry students. Participants reported positive shifts in their perception of Excel, noting increased confidence and a greater willingness to apply the software for complex tasks following the intervention. While direct skill acquisition requires longitudinal study, survey data suggests that gamifying the Excel environment can effectively lower the perceived barrier to entry for hesitant students. By embedding skill development within an exploratory framework, this model offers a scalable, adaptable tool for introducing digital literacy in the chemical sciences.

📊 #Excel is a vital skill, but few students are confident, seeing it as a barrier to calculations, not a useful tool.

🔐At @unisouthampton.bsky.social we made an Excel #EscapeRoom for #gamified learning!

🔓Check it out #OpenAccess below:

🔗 doi.org/10.1021/acs....

#iTeachChem #ChemSky #EduSky

From Code to Chemistry: Embedding Python in the Undergraduate Lab By Dr Sam Perry, University of Southampton Sam Perry1,*      Derri Hughes1   1 School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Southampton *s.c.perry@soton.ac.uk                        …

📣New ETG #Blog Post!

🐍 Sam Perry and Derri Hughes discuss embedding #Python #coding into their practical #Chemistry curriculum

Check it out here 👇

rscetg.wordpress.com/2026/01/09/f...

@perrysc.bsky.social @unisouthampton.bsky.social
#iTeachChem #EduSky

Storytelling techniques in Chemistry Bringing Chemistry to Life: Enhancing Foundation Year Learning through Storytelling By Dr Anas Alkayal, University of Surrey Anas Alkayal1,*      James Wright1  &…

📣New ETG #Blog Post!

Anas Alkayal discusses using storytelling techniques to enhance foundation year learning in #Chemistry

Check it out here 👇

rscetg.wordpress.com/2025/11/24/s...

@uniofsurrey.bsky.social #iTeachChem #EduSky

Modular Integration of Python Programming in Undergraduate Physical Chemistry Experiments Programming is a key transferable skill within the chemical sciences with applications supporting data acquisition, as a tool for chemical and spectroscopic analysis and as an environment for theoreti...

🎉 Well here's a nice surprise! Our #article integrating #Python #coding into Chemistry labs is one of the most read articles this month in the @acs.org Journal of #ChemicalEducation.

💡 You can read it #OpenAccess here: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

#iTeachChem #ChemEd #HigherEd

A collection of character name tags for use in a murder mystery game. The pictures for each character have been taken from the movie "Clue".

🥼 Our second year #undergrads are ready for their #MurderMystery practical as a #skills refresher to encourage #collaboration! 🧪

🕵 Will they be able to use their chemical knowledge to crack the case? 🔍

@unisouthampton.bsky.social #ChemEd #HigherEd #GamifiedLearning #Labs #Chemistry #iTeachChem

Student perceptions of an open-source smart worksheet for automated student assessment and feedback built using python - Discover Education Smart worksheets are an emerging educational technology that supports self-directed learning and provides targeted feedback on student assessment, while also reducing staff marking workload. However, their adoption may be limited by high cost, limited flexibility, and proprietary ownership. This study presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of an open-source smart worksheet developed using Python. This worksheet provides a flexible, interactive platform for performing calculations, analysing data, and receiving real-time feedback. It supports automated grading, dynamic content updates and graphical data analysis. Student feedback indicates high satisfaction with the worksheet’s ability to enhance conceptual understanding and streamline the analysis process, demonstrating that students perceive similar learning benefits to commercial alternatives. Importantly, its open-source nature ensures adaptability across academic disciplines, enabling its use in diverse educational contexts to support assessment, feedback, and self-directed learning.

🧪 Published in @springernature.com Discover Education!
#OpenSource smart worksheet for automated #assessment & #feedback built using #Python

📎 Open-access: rdcu.be/eJfcM

Smart worksheets = faster feedback, better engagement, and reduced marking load.

#EdTech #STEM #HigherEd #ChemSky #iTeachChem

6th Commonwealth Chemistry Posters The only chemistry posters event delivered by and for Commonwealth countries, it gives you the chance to engage with top chemists, to find potential collaborations and to network with your peers.

🌍Delighted to be a judge for the #Commonwealth #Chemistry #Poster event!🧪

Connect with researchers and celebrate the diversity of chemistry across the Commonwealth.

🔗 commonwealthchemistry.org/event/6th-co...

Let’s celebrate the next generation of chemical scientists!

#ChemSky #iTeachChem

Great to catch up! Yes would absolutely be up for a visit. I'll have a chat with Paul when I'm back in the office and see what we can arrange :)

An adorable little glass beaker mug in a lecture hall

Really excited to be at #ViCEPHEC at University of Liverpool. Looking forward to all of the great #talks, and also a little obsessed with the adorable little beaker mug in the tote bag!!

#ChemEd #ChemicalEducation
#Conference #ViCEPHEC2025 #iTeachChem #EduSky #ChemSky

Modular Integration of Python Programming in Undergraduate Physical Chemistry Experiments Programming is a key transferable skill within the chemical sciences with applications supporting data acquisition, as a tool for chemical and spectroscopic analysis and as an environment for theoreti...

New article in J Chem Ed!
A modular approach to integrating #Python into undergrad chemistry labs, no prior coding needed.

📖 #OpenAccess: doi.org/10.1021/acs....

🐣 Can you spot the Easter egg in the graphical abstract?

#ChemEd #Python #Coding #STEM #iTeachChem #EduSky #ChemSky

Despite what felt like the entire train network conspiring to prevent my attendance, I had a great time at this event! Both inspiring and reassuring to see colleagues all coming together to tackle the challenges and opportunities of #AI in chemical #education.

#ChemSky #AcademicSky #iTeachChem

Using social media to connect cohorts A digital poster competition that encouraged comments on social media can spark conversations between under- and postgraduate students. Here’s how it works

Our THE Campus #article discusses challenges and opportunities using LinkedIn to bridge the gap between #undergrads and #postgrads, demystify #research and build #community
👉 www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/using...
@unisouthampton.bsky.social #AcademicSky #iTeachChem @timeshighered.bsky.social

CHEP Festival 2025 - 8/9/10/14 July Join colleagues at this year's CHEP Festival, 'Building the Future across the Triple Helix', that takes place from 8 July over 4 days.

Looking forward to sharing our work improving the #accessibility of #chemistry #teaching labs.

Our pilot study supported #neurodiverse students with sensory overload, to enhance their learning experience.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chep-festi...

#education #STEM #HigherEd #iTeachChem #AcademicSky

Electrodeposition of Thermoelectric Materials Thermoelectric (TE) materials produce electrical energy when exposed to a thermal gradient. This review presents the opportunities of electrochemistry as a synthetic route for promising TE materials,...

🎉 New paper alert! 🎉

Our #review into the #Electrodeposition of #Thermoelectric Materials has just been published with #ChemElectroChem. A great first stop for anyone looking to get involved in the field!

🔗 doi.org/10.1002/celc...

#ChemSky @unisouthampton.bsky.social

Escape Rooms in Education: Showcase - Learning and Teaching Academy Escape Rooms in Education Showcase 2025 Conferences Chairs: Clare Thomson, Heriot-Watt University and Briyana Morrell, University of Indianapolis. We are thrilled to announce the Escape Rooms in Educ...

Nearly time for Escape Rooms in #Education!! Will be presenting our new #Excel #EscapeRoom! Our new #GamifiedLearning approach to closing the Excel skills gap in #chemistry #undergraduates

#EduSky #iTeachChem

lta.hw.ac.uk/escape-rooms...

@heriotwattuni.bsky.social @unisouthampton.bsky.social

Makes sense. We have a fair chunk of prelab before the echem practicals for the same reason! If you're interested, the enzyme - glucose probably works without echem - mix the enzyme and glucose then it's a titration to quantify peroxide. Options for Michaelis Menten if you add time as a factor too.

What sort of equipment do you have to work with? If you have access to potientiostats there are some nice electrochemistry options. We run detecting copper in solution and also use enzymes with electrochem to quantify sugar in sports drinks

As both a Physical chemist and cat owner this feels a little to real!! Where did you get the interesting locks?

✨ Glow-in-the-Dark Slime at #SOTSEF! ✨

#ChemSoc are ready to show your how to make your own glowing slime at our #outreach event!

🌱 Their new #GreenChemistry aliginate recipe is even compostable! 🔬

@unisouthampton.bsky.social #ChemSky #iTeachChem

ErrantScience on LinkedIn: #cartoonabstract #rscposter #rscedu Here’s a #CartoonAbstract made for Sam Perry’s #RSCPoster all about incorporating Bake Off challenge elements into chemistry teaching, go check out their…

Just had my work cartoonified by @errantscience.bsky.social for the @rsc.org #Poster Day!

Head over to LinkedIn to and search #RSCPoster to check out all the amazing science!

www.linkedin.com/posts/errant...

#iTeachChem 🥽 #Chemsky🧪

The ChemSoc Podcast: In Our Element Podcast · Southampton Chemistry Society · Welcome to Southampton's ChemSoc Podcast: In Our Element! We chat to PhD students, undergraduates & lecturers about both life in chemistry and life beyond th...

Congrats to Southampton ChemSoc on their new #chemistry #podcast! Amazing student-led achievement!

Curious about #research? Interested in tips to succeed in chemistry? Want to hear exciting new #science?

Listen here: open.spotify.com/show/2t2N0Yi...
#iTeachChem #ChemSky @unisouthampton.bsky.social

Was putting this sort of plan together with my project student the other day! Any advice for encouraging uptake from students? Still spending my time convincing students Excel is the better option over pen and paper... even for really complicated calculations!

Have tried doing this with MS Forms. Quick Likert scale response for "how much did you enjoy this", "how useful was this", "how challenging was this" etc. Students report that this is a good idea, but response rates are frustratingly low so it's hard to get useful data.

Thanks for sharing! Totally agree with your approach. Working to change the mindset of mistakes being failures to being learning opportunities takes a lot of confidence, but it doesn't take long to reap the rewards!

An "Elf on the shelf" relaxing in a sonic water bath in a University chemistry teaching laboratory.

Anyone else found that their newest lab tech really isn't pulling their weight?

#ElfOnTheShelf #Chemistry #Teaching #Laboratory @unisouthampton.bsky.social #iTeachChem #AcademicSky

Love to be added if possible :)

Yes please, love to join!

📢 Call out to prospective MSc students from #Commonwealth countries 📢

@unisouthampton.bsky.social is offering #scholarships for Masters programs in #Electrochemistry and #Battery Tech, as well as other areas.

www.southampton.ac.uk/study/fees-f...

#ChemSky #iTeachChem #AcademicSky