More than 100 donors have been inspired to give over £266,000 to provide world-leading facilities for the teaching of chemistry at Oxford, with some of the equipment the first of its kind in the UK.

Undergraduate teaching in the three areas of chemistry (organic, inorganic and physical) has previously occurred in separate buildings, but the new laboratories provide a unified space for integrated practical teaching, with the first students using them from October 2018.

As part of the appeal, alumni had the opportunity to dedicate a fume hood through a donation of £1,916, commemorating the centenary of the opening of the Dyson Perrins Laboratory. Former professors and donors' loved ones feature among the engraved dedications. One reads: 'Fill this lab with good science, great skills and interesting substances... preferably not smoke'.

The appeal has made Oxford Chemistry's physical environment for undergraduate teaching one of the very best in the world and has prompted a surge in positive alumni engagement.

Professor Mark Brouard, Head of the Department of Chemistry, says: 'The chemistry teaching labs will enable us to provide the very best educational experience for chemistry undergraduates, facilitating cutting-edge new interdisciplinary experiments that mirror the collaborative nature of our research programmes. I am incredibly grateful for the generous support of our alumni and friends and am delighted that students will be able to benefit from this state-of-the-art facility for years to come.'