'Kroto Science' Workshops - in memory of Sir Harry Kroto


Harry Kroto


"Thanks very much for a great day! All the kids loved it and I've had several other classes ask me if they were going to get to 'make the balls' today".
Phoebe, Durrington High School, Worthing

"Many thanks for your workshops yesterday. I’ve had lots of positive feedback from children and tutors. Bucky ball mania has broken out at Cumnor!"
Simon, Cumnor School

"Thank you once again for yesterday, it was really great and the pupils thoroughly enjoyed the talk and the workshops"
Charlie, Westminster School

"It was great seeing you last week and thank you once again for two inspirational days! As always, your talks and discussions were most interesting, informative and enjoyable."
Cheryl, FSU London

Workshop objectives: to explore the inspiring science of the Nobel Prize winning C60 molecule discovered by Sir Harry Kroto
Key words: discovery, symmetry, structures, nanotechnology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, geodesic science

Introduction
Sir Harry Kroto worked at Sussex for most of his life. He was an inspired and brilliant research scientist working creatively in such diverse areas as chemistry, physics, astronomy, spectroscopy as well as developing multimedia platforms such of the Vega Science Trust and GEOSET. He opened up new areas of nanotechnology and of course is best remembered for the discovery of the football shaped molecule C60, Buckminsterfullerene. In 1996 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of the Fullerenes. Dr Jonathan Hare worked closely with Prof. Kroto for 10 years and was part the Nobel prize winning team here at Sussex. Jonathan will be your guide to help you explore Harry's exciting 'Kroto Science'.

About the workshops
In these workshops we will explore the fascinating areas of science, mathematics, engineering and architecture that are part of the story of the discovery of C60. C60 is of course a form of carbon forming the third allotrope in addition to graphite and diamond. There are other structures that have emerged since the discovery of this round world of carbon science including other sized cages (the fullerene family), endohedral fullerenes, nanotubes and graphene (2010 Nobel Prize) as well as many potentially useful applications.

1 hour workshops: Most of the workshops are for 1 hour exploring some of the fascinating science and then making up a molecular model of C60 (which they can keep to take home). Making the model allows the participants to get a 'hands on' experience for themselves of the excitment of puzzling out the solution to the molecular structure.

Courses: I have also created a longer series of workshops to form a 'Kroto Science' day course for GSCE and multi-day course for the A-level Sussex University Summer School. Here we will look in much more detail at various topics including; Richard Buckminster Fuller's Geodesic dome work, material science & nanotechnology, spectroscopy and as well as the astrophysical and astrochemical implications of the C60 Buckminsterfullerene breakthroughs.

The C60 model kits have been specially made by Cochranes of Oxford and contain enough parts to make up the rugby ball shaped C70 molecule.
(so there are a few extras left over when you make a C60 model)

Numbers and age range
I have workshops suitable for Primary, GCSE and A-levels and can accommodate almost any size audience. (I have run workshops for as few as two people and up to 800 depending on the size of the venue of course).

The C60 kits and Kroto Family Educational Foundation
I would like to thank Margaret Kroto, family and colleagues from The Kroto Family Educational Foundation (see info. at the end of this article) who have provided the C60 kits for these workshops.

HWK C60 workshops presented so far:
2025
7th Feb - Brighton Aldridge Community Academy, 5 x C60 workshops - ca. 125 C60 kits (large)
10th March - Sevenoaks School, 3 x C60 workshops (local state schools) - ca. 95 C60 kits (large)

2024
19th March - Durrington High School, 5 x C60 Buckminsterfullerene workshops - ca. 150 C60 kits
2nd April - FSU London, 1 x C60 Buckminsterfullerene workshops - ca. 8 C60 kits
11th June - 3 x Buckminsterfullerene - Hove Park School I. - ca. 90 C60 kits
12th June - 3 x Buckminsterfullerene - Hove Park School II. - ca. 90 C60 kits
17th June - 6 x Buckminsterfullerene - Peacehaven Community School - ca. 180 C60 kits
5th July - Westminster School, C60 workshops - Kroto workshops with local state school students - ca. 20 C60 kits
15th July - Nonsuch School, 2 (large) x C60 Buckminsterfullerene workshops - ca. 250 C60 kits
29th October - FSU (london) C60 Buckminsterfullerene workshop - ca. 25 C60 kits


2023
23rd Feb - FSU, London: Discovery of C60 workshop workshop - ca. 10 C60 kits
6th March - Lancing College - C60 workshop I - ca. 70 C60 kits
7th March - Lancing College - C60 workshop II - ca. 70 C60 kits
9th March - Lancing College - extra C60 workshop III ca. 70 C60 kits
22nd March - Durrington High School, 5 x C60 workshops - ca. 160 C60 kits
11 April - FSU, London: Discovery of C60 workshop workshop - ca. 10 C60 kits
13th June - Littlehampton Academy, C60 workshops - ca. 70 C60 kits (large)
20th June - Sir Robert Woodard Academy, C60 workshops - ca. 70 C60 kits (large)
4 - 6 July - University of Sussex Y10 Summer School - ca. 70 C60 kits (large)
10th July - Brighton Aldridge Community Academy, 5 x C60 workshops - ca. 70 C60 kits (large)
11 July - Discovery of C60 workshops, ca. 200 students, Nonsuch High School, Cheam - ca. 200 C60 kits
16th Nov. - FSU, London: Geodesic Dome & Discovery of C60 workshop workshop - ca. 10 C60 kits


2022
31st March - FSU, London: the discovery of C60 workshop workshop - ca. 10 C60 kits
19th June - C60 workshop with Sussex University WP ambassadors - ca. 10 C60 kits
17th June - Harry Kroto Celebration day & RSC Blue Plaque unvailing, Sussex University, UK:
am - Jonathan Hare & Steve Acquah, C60 workshop for 210 participants - ca. 210 C60 kits
7th July - Discovery of C60 workshops, 210 students, Nonsuch High School, Cheam - ca. 210 C60 kits


2021
7th Jan - (C) Zoom - C60 workshop I (11-14 y), PotentialPlus UK - ca. 10 kits
7th Jan - (C) Zoom - C60 workshop II (11-14 y), PotentialPlus UK, - ca. 10 kits
8th Jan - (C) Zoom - C60 home workshop with Catherine's neice & nephew - ca. 3 kits
4th March - (C) Zoom - C60 workshop I (7-11 y), PotentialPlus UK - ca. 25
8th June - C60 Workshop with Bjorn & Goldie, Seattle (USA) - ca. 3 C60 kits
14th Oct - FSU, London: the discovery of C60 - ca. 7 C60 kits

2020
9th Jan - GCSE Kroto Science day, Sussex University, School - ca. 20 students, 40 kits
10th Jan - GCSE Kroto Science day, Sussex University, School - ca. 20 students, 40 kits
25th Feb. - FSU, London: the discovery of C60 ca. 3 students, - ca. 3 kits
10th March - Bradfield College - C60 talk / workshops ca. 20 students, - ca. 20 kits

13th April - (C) Skype - C60, Bucky Ball workshop - Tashi, Brighton, UK
13th May - (C) Skype - C70, Bucky Ball II workshop - Tashi, Brighton, UK
29th May - (C) Zoom - C60 workshop 1, PotentialPlus UK, ca, 14 children, 14 kits
29th May - (C) Zoom - C60 workshop 2, PotentialPlus UK, 14 children, 14 kits
2nd July - (C) Zoom - C60 workshop (11-14 y), PotentialPlus UK, 6 kits

20-24 July - Sussex University 'Kroto Science' Summer School, 40 kits

2019
29th Jan. - Sussex Study Experience Chemistry - Sussex University - small group ca. 20 students
1st Feb. - Kroto Science GCSE day, Sussex University, Felpham Community College ca. 15 students
27th Feb. - Sussex Study Experience Chemistry , Sussex University - small group ca. 20 x C60 students
5th March - FSU, London - C60 workshops
12th March - GCSE Kroto Science day, Sussex University, Seaford Head School ca. 28 students
26th April - Kroto Science GCSE day, Sussex University, The Eastbourne Academy ca. 25 students - ca. 50 C60 kits (C60 & C70)
20th May - GCSE Kroto Science day, Sussex University, Hailsham Community College ca. 15 students, 30 kits
23rd May - GCSE Kroto Science day, Sussex University, Oriel High School ca. 20 students, 40 kits
5th June - Bellerbys College, Geodesic Dome & C60 Science workshops ca. 60 students, 60 kits
10th June - Benenden School - Geodesic Dome & C60 Science workshops I ca. 60 students, 60 kits
19th June - Benenden School - Geodesic Dome & C60 Science workshops II ca. 60 students, 60 kits
23 - 26th July - Post 16 Summer School - C60, Fullerene nanotechnology and astro chem, ca. 50
5th Oct - Florida State University, FSU, USA - C60 workshops (ca. 150 kits)
25th Oct - RSC, Edinburgh University - C60 Workshops (ca. 60 kits)
29th Oct - FSU, London - C60 workshops (ca. 10 kits)
3rd Nov. - Bellerbys College, C60 Science workshop - open day for children and parents ca. 50 kits
11th Dec - GCSE Kroto Science day, Sussex University, School TBC ca. 20 students, 40 kits
12th Dec - GCSE Kroto Science party workshop, London ca. 10 students, 20 kits

2018
6th Feb - Sussex Study Experience Chemistry - Sussex University - small group ca. 10 students
19th Feb - Florida State University (London) - small group ca. 2 A-level students
13th March - Durrington High School - 4 x C60 workshops (ca. 120 pupils)
9th June - Benenden School - Kroto Science Workshop: Geodesic domes and C60 (ca. 60 pupils)
11th June - Kroto Science GCSE day, Sussex University, The Eastbourne Academy - ca. 20
12th June - Kroto Science GCSE day, Sussex University, Oriel High School - ca. 20
13th June - Kroto Science GCSE day, Sussex University, Felpham Community College - ca. 20
24th June - 3 x C60 drop-in workshops Sussex University Open day - ca. 130 C60 kits
24 - 27th July - A-level Kroto Science Summer School, Sussex University - including exploring C60, C70 & C28 (ca. 30 C60 kits)
1st Oct. - Westminster School - ca. 60 C60 kits
8th Oct. - Cumnor House School - ca. 160 C60 kits
30th Oct. - Florida State University, London (16 students)
18th Dec. - Kroto Science GCSE day, Sussex University - ca. 20

2017
9th Feb - Sussex Study Experience Physics - Sussex University (small group ca. 10 students)
25th July - Sussex Study Experience Physics - Sussex University (small group ca. 10 students)
28th Sept. - Glenalmond School, C60 primary school workshops (ca. 60 pupils, C60 kits provided by Carol & David Walton )
29th Sept. - Edinburgh University RSC C60 schools workshops (ca. 70 pupils)
24th Oct. - Florida State University, London (small group ca. 2 A-level students)




C60 page

Jonathan's
full outreach
listing 		Sussex pic
Sussex
University 		Vega pic
Vega Science
Trust 		Geoset pic
Prof Kroto
resources 		Geoset pic
Sussex
GEOSET 		C60 page

C60 page

C28 page



Image below taken from The Kroto Family Educational Foundation page (ca. 2017)

Harry Kroto

Dr Jonathan Hare, E-mail: jphcreativescience@gmail.com

NOTE: Although none of the experiments shown in this site represent a great hazard, neither the Creative Science Centre,
Jonathan Hare nor The University of Sussex can take responsiblity for your own experiments based on these web pages.

THE CREATIVE SCIENCE CENTRE

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