Turning the tide on science

25 April 2006

The fall in the popularity of science in schools has been well reported so scientists from NEWI wanted to do something to change the perceptions that young people have about science.   Science research staff and students organised and took part in a series of one day events with the support of Reaching Higher Reaching Wider, a Welsh Assembly Government funded project, which aims to raise people’s aspirations and encourage them to consider further and higher education.  Separate events were organised for five local schools with each day jam packed with science activities to demonstrate that the subject can be interesting and relevant to everyday life. 

The programme started with a presentation and was followed by a visit to Techniquest@NEWI then lots of hands on time conducting experiments in a working research laboratory. As well as gaining experience in a science environment, spending a full day on campus also gave the pupils a sense of what university life can be like.

Dr Al-Assaf, from NEWI’s prestigious Hydrocolloids Research Centre, who put together the programme for the day said, “For these pupils it was the first time they had been in a real life, working laboratory.  It is very different to the science labs in school, here we carry out commercial, applied research.  Pupils often don’t think about science and how it can be applied to the products we all use in our everyday lives until they experience something like this.”

Pupils from Ysgol Clywedog, Rhosnesni, Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, St Joseph’s and Welshpool took part in the programmes.  Group sizes were small to ensure those who attended would benefit as much as possible from the sessions.  Aimed specifically at Year 9 pupils the experiments that the children were involved in looked at natural polymers (also known as hydrocolloids) and their use in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Mr Prince of Ysgol Clwedog said that the pupils had thoroughly enjoyed the enjoyed the day.  He felt it offered them “the opportunity to be challenged in a new and exciting environment that demonstrated the relevance of Science to every day life.”  His feelings were echoed by the Headteacher from Rhosnesi High, “the students enjoyed it very much, particularly the time in the lab, they got a kick out of the experience.”