Young people explore the wonders of science

Posted on Tuesday 22 March 2011

The University of York Science Trail 2011 on Wednesday, 23 March, gives 245 teenagers aged 14 to 16 the chance to work with leading academics and current students across science departments at the University.

Teenagers from 13 schools will sample activities including an outdoor session on climate and weather, working with genuine archaeological animal bone and creating a chemical ‘clock’ that changes colour on cue.

The event will involve staff and students from 14 University departments and centres, the Hull York Medical School and the York Neuroimaging Centre who will help the youngsters explore different aspects of science.

For the first time, some Science Trail events will take place on the University’s new £750 million campus expansion at Heslington East. These include a Psychology workshop on how we see colours in a futuristic pod on the lake outside the superb Ron Cooke Hub building.

The Science Trail gives teenagers a real taste of what it’s like to study science at a top university

Michelle Hughes, Widening Participation Officer

Other highlights will include fun and games with computing, an exploration of the solar system in an inflatable planetarium and DNA fingerprinting.   

The Science Trail 2011 is supported by The Excellence Hub, a partnership between the Universities of Hull, Leeds, Sheffield and York, which develops exciting and purposeful opportunities for gifted and talented young people to gain new experiences, enriching their learning in school or college.

Michelle Hughes, Widening Participation Officer at the University of York, said: “We want to show young people how exciting and fun science can be and how it affects us every day of our lives. The Science Trail gives teenagers a real taste of what it’s like to study science at a top university, providing a chance to take part in lab sessions, lectures, seminars, demonstrations and debates.”

And teachers will be given a chance to learn too. While students are taking part in hands-on science activities, their teachers will attend a free continuing professional development session at the National Science Learning Centre, which is also on the York campus.