Last week, we welcomed back to the School Old Westcliffian Dr Alex Baker, award-winning research chemist and inventor at the University of Warwick. He is not only a scientist with a growing international reputation, but also an experienced public speaker on the national stage, who has a passion for engaging the public in all things Chemistry and Science. His work with the BBC and other media outlets has reached tens of millions of people globally.

Through his award-winning research, he has developed cryoprotectants and invented new lateral flow devices for COVID-19. He believes passionately that everyone should have access to high quality science, so has founded conferences and events targeted at students from disadvantaged and under-represented backgrounds. Dr Baker is determined to make Chemistry an engaging and modern topic of discussion in every coffee shop and classroom in the UK and beyond.

A Level Chemistry students at WHSB were given two presentations by Dr Baker; the first, "Why Chemistry is More than just Chemicals", explored the history of medical diagnostics, how medical diagnostics were used in the Covid-19 pandemic, and how the virus itself provides opportunities to develop new medical diagnostics. The second, entitled "Not All Doctors Have a Medical Degree", explored the lives of Nobel prize winning scientists who had considered studying Medicine at University but did not, and explored the impact scientists have outside of medical careers.

We would like to extend our gratitude to Dr Baker for his continued support for his old school, returning to WHSB again this year for the benefit of our current students. Our thanks also to Mr Wightman, Head of Chemistry, for facilitating this visit.