University lab puts fun into science for children

Children from four schools in Sheffield were given white coats and clipboards as they took part in a series of experiments organised by the Science Brainwaves project.

The event at Sheffield University was sponsored by the British Science Association (BSA).

Science Brainwaves is a national project, affiliated to the BSA, which aims to make sciences, from maths to engineering, fun and understandable for both the general public and school children.

Around 120 young people were entered into four teams: Einsteins, Darwins, Edisons and Newtons to help them feel the part. The pupils learned about university life on a treasure hunt campus tour and carried out fun experiments such as DNA extraction, slime making and sweet chromatography.

University PhD student Ben Dornan, head of volunteers at Science Brainwaves, said: “It’s hard to tell who enjoyed the day more – the kids or the Science Brainwaves volunteers

“It has been a great experience working with the university’s outreach department, and the kids we were working with were amongst some of the most engaged and switched on that we’ve come across.

“We hope that they can take the enthusiasm for science we saw from them today back to the classroom.”

Sheffield University outreach officer, Caroline Knight said: “This event is the first time the outreach department has worked collaboratively with the student-led Science Brainwaves to provide the opportunity for the children to come and be enthused about science and to have the idea of university introduced to them at an early age.

“By offering a fun packed day, a tour and a chance for them to talk to current students, we hope to raise their aspirations enough for them to want to consider university as a realistic option for them when they are older.”

The primary schools taking part on the day were Lakeside, Meynell, Springfield and Woodhouse West.

Based in Sheffield, Science Brainwaves is an educational charity founded by a group of young scientists at the university to help cut through complicated terminology and show how engineering and scientific achievements and research impacts into every day life.

For more information on its work visit the charity’s website at sciencebrainwaves.com.