Andy Allison
Hi, my name is Andy Allison. I am an analytical chemist by profession, having studied at Sheffield and Manchester Universities to gain my Honours Degree in Chemistry and a Masters in Instrumentation and Analytical Science.
Early on in my career I worked as laboratory technician, moving on to become chief chemist of a "Specials" laboratory at British Coal in The UK. Working here was an amazing experience as I had the opportunity to carry out chemical analysis on an incredible range of materials, ranging from prehistoric pollen to cow poo! Working in this environment taught me the value of working in a tightly knit, professional and hard working team. We also had so much fun.
In 1990 I started my teaching career at Netherthorpe School in Derbyshire, where I used to be a pupil. For seventeen years, I taught science to thousands of children aged between 11 and 18. This enabled me to broaden and deepen my understanding of scientific matters outside chemistry and I became very interested in geology, astronomy, environmental science and evolutionary biology. I also realised that physics, especially quantum theory, is the sexiest subject on the planet!
I am now teaching children from generally deprived backgrounds who have been removed from mainstream education. Many of these children have severe problems in terms of social skills, as well as low academic achievement but I love the challenge of working with them. To see such youngsters responding to my encouragement is very rewarding indeed. I also do some private tuition teaching Mathematics and English as well as Science.
Latest Articles
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Adolf Baeyer and the Synthesis of Indigo Dye
Adolf Baeyer was awarded the 1905 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Most famously he carried out the synthesis of indigo dye and pioneered the development of phthalein dyes.
Dec 5, 2008
- Andy Allison
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Hermann Fischer Discoverer of the Peptide Bond
Hermann Fischer discovered the peptide bond and won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1902 for groundbreaking work on the structure and properties of purines and sugars.
Nov 29, 2008
- Andy Allison
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Jacobus van't Hoff Pioneer of Physical Chemistry
Jacobus van't Hoff was the first winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his brilliant work on osmotic pressure and chemical equilibria.
Nov 19, 2008
- Andy Allison
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The Human Kidney Structure and Function
The anatomy and physiology of the human kidney, evolved over millennia, enable this organ to excrete waste, regulate homeostatic processes and produce important hormones.
Oct 26, 2008
- Andy Allison
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Entropy and Free Energy Made Simple
Thermodynamics describes how heat energy moves around and can prove a difficult subject to study. Good models for entropy and free energy aid understanding of this topic.
Oct 22, 2008
- Andy Allison
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A brief Biography of Shostakovich
Amongst soviet composers Shostakovich occupies a pivotal position as the leading 20th century symphonist and composer of many famous string quartets.
Oct 14, 2008
- Andy Allison
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Jean Perrin and Atomic Theory
Jean Perrin brilliantly confirmed Einstein's ideas on Brownian motion by the empirically calculating Avogadro's Constant, conclusively proving Dalton's atomic theory
Oct 3, 2008
- Andy Allison
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A Brief History of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Ideas about OCD, a serious mental illness, have evolved from ancient notions of melancholia and possession through to Freud's psychoanalysis and modern neurochemistry.
Sep 28, 2008
- Andy Allison
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Travelling at Light Speed
Proton collisions, at near light speeds, lead to bizarre effects which seemingly defy common sense. Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity helps to make sense of it all.
Sep 21, 2008
- Andy Allison
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Water The Greenhouse Gas in a Glass
The Earth's atmosphere contains countless, incredibly small, particles of water or H2O, the best known molecule on the planet and an important greenhouse gas.
Sep 15, 2008
- Andy Allison
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