News

University labs welcome tomorrow’s scientists

(30 March 2006)

Nearly 1000 North East secondary school pupils are taking up their places in the science labs of Durham University this week for a taste of what it would be like to be tomorrow’s engineers, biologists, chemists, astronomers and medical researchers.

Staff in the University’s science departments have been joined this year by experts from the University Hospital of North Durham to run activities for the annual Durham Science Festival. With undergraduates away on vacation, the University opens its laboratory doors to the 13-15 year-olds of Years 9 and 10 at schools and colleges in County Durham and neighbouring education authorities in Tyne and Wear and Tees Valley. Working in teams of four, the pupils engage with a range of interactive exhibits with the help of University science lecturers, postgraduate research students and hospital staff. For example, in ‘A Pavement Safari’ they examine under the microscope the tiny plant and animal life found on a typical footpath, they get their hands on spectacular fossils and exotic rocks, observe the effects of liquid nitrogen on everyday objects, examine the workings of thermal imaging and try their hands as a team of engineers to design, build and test a simple device. And for a daytime look at the night sky they can creep into an indoor inflatable planetarium. Festival organiser Dr Paula Martin of Durham’s Earth Sciences Department, said: “We want to give the students a practical chance to widen their understanding and appreciation of science and technology. These activities will make them think a bit and boost their confidence in their problem solving abilities.” Schools have booked places during the morning or afternoon sessions until 30 March. All the activities take place in the School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, off Stockton Road, in Durham. The Festival, Durham’s regular follow-up to national Science Week after the end of the university teaching term, has been running since 1995. Since then more than 12,000 teenagers have sampled its activities and many have gone on to pursue degrees in science.