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Science can be fun!

Although I’m still in my thirties I’m still seen as being from the ‘old school of science’ where everyone got their hands dirty in the labs, experimenting, and exploding where necessary, to try to understand the real principles behind the science being covered. These days science is extra-safe, and quite rightly too, but it needn’t be boring.

Did you know that potassium reacts so violently with water that purple flames fly off the metal in all directions as it dances vigorously on the water.

Science really does not have to be dull at all, particularly if it relates to the experiences that we all have in life. “Science is all around us” – that’s my opening line, and then you start to see the cogs turning in the faces of the audience who are checking out their chairs, clothing and fingernails. The science of chocolate, toys and even underwear are now my pièce de résistance and it’s really amazing just how much materials technology and polymer chemistry is crammed into the humble pair of pants. The wonders of a bar of Dairy Milk or ageing of Action Man really grab the attention and encourage all present to think carefully about the science behind it all. (It’s funny how girls warm to the chocolate lecture, particularly when it comes to the tasting experiments, and boys suddenly develop an interest in engineering and materials technology when it comes to examining the modern bra!)

Did you know that white chocolate actually contains no cocoa at all – it’s just cocoa butter, milk and sugar.

Another really good example is forensic science. People of all ages are drawn to programmes on TV showing the analysis of evidence from crime scenes. They relate to the investigator’s need to work out who ‘did it’, and can follow some quite complicated science by following the steps taken to solve the crime. I’ve been involved in setting up Super Sleuthing workshops where visitors can use our forensic science equipment to solve a made-up crime. We even had a small copse built in one of the classrooms and borrowed a fake dead body from the local theatre to make it look realistic.

Did you know that shoemarks are effectively like fingerprints as the design of the tread, wear on the sole, and pieces of grit caught up in the grooves can link the shoe to the crime scene.

National Science Week is a great soapbox for hearing about all sorts of interesting science, and for us in the know to stage-manage our ‘performance’ to involve bigger, better and more exciting things. My input to Science Week began in a small way demonstrating the science of hot and cold and doing the predictable hammering of a nail into wood with a frozen banana (using liquid nitrogen of course). This was the start of a theatrical journey that involved me launching film canisters using denture cleaning tablets, and dancing with the audience like a molecule in Infrared light. By the way, audience participation is also a must if only to demonstrate how molecules polymerise by holding onto your classmates hands (make sure you’re not sat next to someone you do not want to hold hands with).

Did you know that if children acting as molecules held hands around a football pitch, there would only be enough polymer to cover the tip of a little fingernail.

This year will be my 7th year of performing for National Science Week, and to top it all I am now a National Science Ambassador with a licence to thrill, scientifically speaking of course. I can say that this year’s events will definitely be bigger and brighter than ever. Forensic Super Sleuthing is at the top of the agenda with a little crime history thrown in for good measure. Talks on chocolate are still the flavour of the season, with plenty of live experimental tasting with a whole host of different bars. Pants always go down well – if you’ll pardon the expression. And new for this year are Poultices, Potions and Poisons (real alternative medicines with a bit of Harry Potter thrown in) and Powerpuff or Powerforce (Batteries and how we can’t live without them – think about mobile phones).

Did you know that there is a material that is used in underwear for skiers which contains tiny globules which change from solid to a liquid and give off heat, and change back absorbing heat. So the skier stays warm and comfortable whether sitting on a ski lift or skiing down piste.

Well apart from the fun, science is also a serious way of getting a good job. It’s amazing to see what a science degree can lead to, be it in science or out, as these courses give you core skills to do practically anything. I’ve bee involved recently in setting up health science courses, which are financed by the NHS, and almost guarantee you a job at the end – an opportunity well worth considering in this day and age. So think carefully about science, it can give you a rewarding career and hopefully lots of fun on the way!   Send to a friend

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