Pictured above: Pupils from Cardinal Newman School getting
to grips with the lab equipment
Coventry University held a conference today for 130 students
from schools across the city to show them how science influences
our lives.
The event, entitled 'Science to A-level and Beyond,' involved a
mix of lectures and workshops designed to interest the 14 and
15-year-olds in choosing science as an A-level subject.
The University, which worked in partnership with Coventry LEA to
organise the event, invited Professor Pat Bailey, from Keele
University, to deliver a demonstration lecture - Fireworks,
Rainbows and Magic Bullet Medicines - to give a visual display to
stimulate pupils' interest.
Students then joined in with a range of practical workshops and
the day ended with a lecture from Dr Helen Maddock, principal
lecturer at Coventry University, which was called "Mending a broken
heart".
Dr Elaine Green, Senior Lecturer in Biomolecular Sciences at
Coventry University, said the students reacted enthusiastically to
the lectures and participated well in the workshops.
She said:
"Science gets a reputation for being a difficult subject that is
uninteresting and dry and we wanted to show the students this isn't
the case.
"We made sure the lectures were visual and showy and we
delivered a series of 'how to' workshops that included how to use
science to diagnose disease, win medals, protect the environment,
find out who you are and solve crimes.
"We're delighted with how well the day went and are looking
forward to running it again next year."
Dr Mary Berry, of The Woodlands School and Sports College,
said:
"This has been a fantastic event because students have been able
to experience the real-life applications of science and its place
in our lives.
"Moreover it's been a wonderful opportunity for students to see
what science is like in a University environment and have memorable
experiences that make the possibility of studying sciences to
A-level and beyond, more of a reality. I am already looking forward
to next year."
This is the third time the event has been run successfully at
Coventry University.
For more information about Coventry University, please visit
their website here: www.coventry.ac.uk