How the Challenge works
- Register for the Challenge here. Cost $11 (incl. GST).
- We will send you two sample tubes to titrate.
- Chemistry educators, teachers and laboratory technicians will participate as individuals rather than in teams.
- The analysis should be completed within 3 hours. You complete the analysis in your own time at your place of employment.
- Submit your Entry by 22 September 2023. Please email your answer to the Titration Teacher Challenge Coordinator - Elaine Bergmann FRACI CChem
- Results for the best entrants will be announced on the RACI website (with the entrants' permission)
- Plaques and Certificates will be awarded as shown below.
- A Guide to the Titration Challenge can be found here
Awards and Recognition
- All entries will receive a Certificate of Participation
- Entries obtaining a result of Excellent Standard will receive a certificate recognising their achievement.
- A plaque will be awarded to each of the top 10% of participants, providing that each of these has submitted a result of Excellent Standard (see Section 6 of the Rules).
2022 Titration Teacher Challenge Results
The Challenge is a competition for teachers and scientific technicians from any educational institution. A total of 46 individuals entered, although not all were able to actually compete. 13 entrants achieved a result of an Excellent standard and are to be congratulated. Their rank order follows. It is pleasing to see so many of our educators succeeding in the competition. With mentors such as these, Chemistry students are in safe hands.
"This was $11 well spent. What helped was patience while learning, and an excellent teacher at university. Cheang Khoo at the University of Western Sydney made sure we used the correct techniques right from the beginning – no shortcuts. It’s better to complete titrations slowly and accurately early on in the learning process because you will get quicker with time. It’s something that I repeat to my students ad nauseam."
"Remember – you only want the faintest of faint pink in your flask, not vivid ‘Oxford Street pink’. When you get close to your end point and the colour starts to last but then slowly fade, add your drops very slowly. An overlooked detail is the pH of your deionised water. Using acidic water will only end in frustration and tears. Universal indicator is helpful in this regard."
"Other than that, I just got in the zone and let my training take over. No thoughts – only titration." Rachel Czaban
Rachel’s final tip: Trust yourself and trust your training, stick to tried and tested methods.
2022 Final Results Leaderboard
|
PLACE
|
ENTRANT
|
INSTITUTION
|
SCORE
|
|
1st
|
Rachel Czaban
|
Armidale Secondary College NSW
|
0
|
|
2nd
|
Dr Kate Slessor
|
Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology QLD
|
1
|
|
Equal 3rd
|
Annette Gregory
|
Ignatius Park College QLD
|
2
|
|
Equal 3rd
|
Benjamin Harding
|
Wanneroo Secondary College WA
|
2
|
|
5th
|
Greg Czaban
|
Armidale Secondary College NSW
|
3
|
|
6th
|
Sue Saunders
|
Hellyer College TAS
|
4
|
|
7th
|
Dom Cawood
|
Mount St Michael’s College QLD
|
6
|
|
8th
|
Seema Goel
|
Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology QLD
|
7
|
|
9th
|
Dr Kerry Pinchbeck
|
Aberfoyle Park High School SA
|
8
|
|
10th
|
Shona Schroeder
|
Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology QLD
|
9
|
|
11th
|
Nadja Benkenstein
|
St Ursula’s College Toowoomba QLD
|
14
|
|
12th
|
Jeannie M O’Reilly
|
St Ursula’s College Toowoomba QLD
|
17
|
|
13th
|
Dr Vicky Barnett
|
Curtin University WA
|
20
|
Elaine Bergmann NTC Coordinator