Chemistry Students visit Pfizer Pharmaceuticals
On the 10th December, 14 students of Chemistry from Hazelwood College, Dromcollogher, along with their teacher Ms. Bernie. Walsh, visited the premises of Pfizer in Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork. Pfizer is a multinational pharmaceutical company who make the active ingredients found in many important drugs such as the cholesterol pill Lipitor. As part of the Leaving Certificate Chemistry syllabus, students have the option of studying industrial chemistry and the site visit to Pfizer helped contextualise chemical processes that students encounter such as Quality Control (using chromatography techniques) and the basic steps involved in processing a drug. The trip involved visits to the laboratories as well as a step by step account of how a drug is taken from the raw material state to its powder form. Pfizer offer a programme inviting students to shadow an employee of Pfizer for a full week and gain experiences in the many different departments of the company. One student has applied to partake in the programme next spring. An enjoyable day was had by all.
