4 Nov 2025
A bit of an #outreach win today - orders from Flinders Island, a remote island off the coast of Tasmania, for both a Crystal Explorer Kit (for their primary students) and an Elements Set (for their secondary students)! #elementsets #crystallography #ozchem #BraggYourPattern
3
193
2 Jul 2025
Another little article on the #elementsets project, this time from the great Alice Motion in @ChemistryWorld.
Helping remote schools be in their element: chemistryworld.com/opinion/h…
2
3
1,487
7 Jun 2025
Remember the world record diamond model from #IUCr2023? It's now part of 750 Crystal Explorer Kits we're giving away FREE to *primary* schools in regional and remote Australia and NZ. Details and order form here: braggyourpattern.com/crystal….
#ozchem #elementsets #outreach #SciComm
3
5
11
848
15 May 2025
Just out online in @NatRevChem - my article on the #elementsets project.
Read all about the journey from crazy and naive late night thought bubble to 1.5 million better student lessons on the periodic table here: rdcu.be/el2F4.
#ozchem #outreach
3
11
30
3,854
3 May 2025
Short paper on the #elementsets project just accepted for Nature Reviews Chemistry (@NatRevChem)!
I'm jumping the gun a bit as it's not online just yet, but it's not far away now.
7
218
25 Feb 2025
A quick update on the #elementsets - we now (finally!) have a suite of class plans and related resources specially written for using the sets in the classroom. These are available on the website (elementsets.net), and are free to download and use however you like. #ozchem
4
9
748
20 Dec 2024
This just popped up on my FB feed - the two first mock-up prototypes of the #elementsets from SIX YEARS AGO (!!!). Good grief. #ozchem
1
1
8
578
11 Dec 2024
Props sorted for this morning’s talk at #IC24 on the #elementsets. #ozchem @RACI_Inorganic @RACInational
2
19
674
27 Oct 2024
I've also now 'published' the full and up-to-date map of where all the #elementsets have gone: google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid…. Feel free to zoom in on the map to check your local schools and see where the nearest element set is to you! #ozchem
27 Oct 2024
While the #elementsets project has "finished", I'm still getting the occasional late order come in from schools who've just heard about it. Luckily I have enough leftover samples/funds to fill these requests (so far) - this one's off to ACT tomorrow. Now up to 1624 sets. #ozchem
5
326
27 Oct 2024
While the #elementsets project has "finished", I'm still getting the occasional late order come in from schools who've just heard about it. Luckily I have enough leftover samples/funds to fill these requests (so far) - this one's off to ACT tomorrow. Now up to 1624 sets. #ozchem
1
10
681
1 Sep 2024
Another #elementsets display from a school in Adelaide. Incredible! They've even sent me the Adobe Illustrator file used to produce this, so anyone with a laser cutter can make their own (file now available on the elementsets.net website). #ozchem
1
12
525
22 Aug 2024
So here's a photo just sent to me of an #elementsets display one of the recipient schools has made. Absolutely incredible! What a fantastic school to put this level of effort into it - the kids are in good hands. I think this is my favourite one yet. #ozchem
1
4
25
1,290
8 Jul 2024
My pleasure. It was so great (& important) to have the support of @RACInational for the project. Hopefully it will help engage future generations of both chemists and the general public with the periodic table just that little bit more. #outreach #elementsets
1
2
68
11 Jun 2024
The #elementsets project – 1600 sets of samples of 37 pure elements sent FREE to schools all over Australia – has now finished. Stats to follow, but thank you to the generous sponsors who funded the project and colleagues who helped make these hand-made sets. #ozchem 🧵 1/6
3
6
23
1,393
7 Jun 2024
Surprise (not), 3 more #elementsets orders have come in after the last set was posted off today, including one from a *very* remote school (Tennant Creek). My resolve has weakened, so now my weekend will be spent trying to cobble together a few more sets from leftovers. #ozchem
7
240
5 Jun 2024
With less than 35 #elementsets left, I went back and sent a reminder to some rural and remote schools that were in the first round of offers last year. Just 8 sets left now, and I was particularly thrilled to get orders from these two *very* remote schools. #ozchem
1
3
13
779
28 May 2024
This is such an awesome display for one of our #elementsets. Looks brilliant on display, and the samples can still be taken out and examined closely by students in the classroom when needed. Fantastic!
#ozchem
1
14
939
20 May 2024
Just had a call from a lab tech from a school in country NSW. "Our Head of Science received one of your #elementsets today. Thank you - it looks great - but she's a little puzzled why you've sent one to us out of the blue". "Because she ordered one by filling in the form....?"
1
7
434
16 May 2024
So, here's the 'after' photos of the #elementsets I re-housed and glued myself after one of the schools had a little SNAFU gluing their set themselves (i.e. didn't follow the instructions & used the wrong glue). Looks much better. Posted back to them last week.
25 Feb 2024
Here's what can happen to the #elementsets if you don't read the detailed instructions and use the wrong glue (e.g. Araldite, super glue) to seal them (ONLY use *clear Liquid Nails*). I suspect these were also left to dry in the container, letting the fumes re-circulate. #ozchem
1
4
394
14 May 2024
And with that, the last of my backlog of #elementsets orders go in the mail today! Of 1000 sets made this round, I have just 39 left to be claimed. Hoping for a few more late orders from Qld & WA to tip them over 50% coverage. #ozchem
4
10
683