News

Sidewalk Safari uncovers the creatures living under your feet

(27 March 2003)

Visitors to the University of Durham Festival of Science, Engineering and Medicine this week will be invited to take part in a Sidewalk Safari to unearth the creatures that live beneath the pavements in our streets.

During the ‘safari’ there will be the opportunity to look at Water Bears, the tiny animals no bigger than the thickness of a human hair living in between paving stones. The bears will be extracted from their tiny moss forests along with the creatures who share their habitat, creeping amoebas, wheel animals, nematode worms and a host of other mini-beasts that represent some of the strangest life forms on earth. All will be examined at high magnification under a microscope.

Scientists at the University will provide over 20 hands-on activities for school visits during the day and for families and other general public in the evening.

There will also be the opportunity to take part in a race of Palaeozoic proportions spanning 590-248 million years -The Trilobite Derby.

Geologists have built trilobite bodies on to remote-control racing cars, supplied with the help of Model Active. The trilobites will race through geological time from their early evolution some 590 million years ago until their extinction 248 million years ago. Festival visitors can put them through their paces on a course which demonstrates the geological ages they belonged to, and what other creatures and plants were around at the time.

The Festival, which is free, takes place in the School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, on the University Science Site off Stockton Road in Durham. The public sessions are 5.30pm-7.30pm from 31 March–2 April.

Further information and images: http://www.dur.ac.uk/science.fest/

Each year, since its inception in 1995, the Durham Festival of Science and Engineering has attracted many thousands of school pupils, together with members of the general public from all around the region.

Hundreds of pupils from various local schools will attend this year’s four day event, organised by science departments in the University. The Festival aims to increase awareness and interest in science, engineering and medicine. Last year 1,500 students attended in school groups.

Lorraine Jolley, Masterclass & Projects Co-ordinator at the University of Durham said, “The aim is to present students with a learning opportunity that will lead to an improved understanding of science and technology, and at the same time, increase confidence in the student’s ability to problem solving. The Festival is well matched to students who are motivated, enthusiastic about science and technology and are able to work as a member of a small team. The programme is very demanding, but experience has shown that motivated students respond well to this type of challenge”.

The University has put on the event with the help of sponsorship and other support from the Company of Biologists, British Sedimentological Research Group, Durham County Council, Go North East, the Geological Society (VMSG), OneNorthEast, Model Active, The Royal Society of Chemistry and University Hospital of North Durham.

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Further Information Hilary Hull, Science Festival Organising Committee/Department of Chemistry Tel: 0191 334 132
Helen Swain, Public Relations Office Tel: 0191 334 0017

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY Schools from around the region will be attending the festival each day. There will be an opportunity to take photographs at the event on Monday 31 March from 10am-12.00 and from 1pm to 3pm at the School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, on the University Science Site off Stockton Road in Durham.

Please contact Hilary Hull, Science Festival Organising Committee on 0191 334 2132 or the PR Office on 0191 334 0017 if you wish to come along.