School pupils on the trail of scientific knowledge
Posted on 28 February 2006
A total of 270 14-16 year-olds from schools in York, North and East Yorkshire are taking part in the University's Science Trail designed to open young minds to the wonders of science.Run by the University's science departments and the Hull York Medical School (HYMS), the Science Trail will give groups of pupils the opportunity to sample a range of hands-on activities on a route around the University's Heslington Campus.
Pupils will have the chance to test the energy changes in chemical experiments, use DNA to investigate a 'crime scene', find out how ancient manuscripts are conserved and see a sophisticated scanner to measure brain activity. They will be able to discover how music technology can save lives, use a carbon dioxide sensor to learn about climate change and discover how to make living body parts.
We are sure that the young people taking part will discover that science is both interesting and fun
Nik Miller
The event on Wednesday 1 March is an appetizer for the York Festival of Science and Technology, organised by Science City York, and running from 9 March to 19 March to coincide with National Science Week.
During the event, teachers will participate in continuing professsional development activities at the £11 million National Science Learning Centre, which opened at the University of York last autumn.
Science Trail organiser Nik Miller, of the University's Admission and Schools Liaison Office, said: "We are sure that the young people taking part will discover that science is both interesting and fun. We are convinced that activities they sample on the Science Trail will inspire them to greater interest in science and scientific study.
"We are really excited to work with the teachers and the students. Such was the level of interest from schools in York and North Yorkshire that we could have filled the places on the Science Trail many times over."
Anna Rooke, Manager, Science City York said: "This is an exciting event which really captures the spirit of the whole Festival and gives students the chance to see a broad range of real science and technology in action. We hope that this year's Festival will inspire and encourage people of all ages and encourage them to consider science and technology as the key to an exciting career in York."
Notes to editors:
- Photocall: 1.15pm, Wednesday 1 March. Pupils from Easingwold School build living body parts in a Frankensteinian laboratory. Journalists should report to Reception in the Department of Biology at 1.15pm.
- The York Festival of Science and Technology is a ten-day long series of free events running from 9-19 March. It coincides with National Science Week and is organised by Science City York. More than 6,000 visitors attended Festival events in 2005. Further information from www.sciencecityyork.org.uk/community/
- A full York Festival of Science and Technology programme is available, please contact Rachel Goddard on 01757 289696 or email: rachel@intandem-marketing.co.uk
- Science City York was established in 1998 as a partnership between the University of York, the City of York Council, Yorkshire Forward and private industry. In 2003, Science City York was cited in the Treasury’s Lambert Review as an exemplar of Business-University Collaboration. More than 9,000 people are employed in science, technology and support occupations in businesses and organisations in Science City York and other areas of technology and research based at the University. The Science City York partnership which has created more than 2,600 new jobs since 1998, places science and technology at the heart of the local economy and aims to create a further 15,000 high technology jobs by 2021.
- The National Science Learning Centre delivered its first course on 1 November 2005. The only facility of its kind in the world, it provides the highest quality professional development for teachers of science and technicians from across the UK. The Wellcome Trust is providing £25 million to fund the Centre, which is open to everyone involved in the teaching of science, in primary and secondary schools and FE colleges.
- SETPOINT is one of the main partners involved in organising the Festival. The purpose of SETPOINT is to work with partner organisations, schools and local businesses to provide information and support activities which enhance and enrich the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) curriculum. In North Yorkshire, the SETPOINT is housed within the offices of NYBEP Ltd.
- The York Festival of Science and Technology has been supported by Yorkshire Forward and the Learning and Skills Council North Yorkshire to help encourage greater access to science and technology learning. National Science Week runs from 10 to 19 March 2006. An online programme of events can be found at www.the-ba.net/nsw