Mudit Matanhelia, President of the student society CHaOS (Cambridge Hands-On Science) 2004-2005, has received a Home Office Year of the Volunteer medal for 2005.

CHaOS is a voluntary student group based in Cambridge which runs hands-on experiments to show that science is fun and relevant to all. Under Mudit’s leadership, it grew out of the Cambridge Science Festival event Crash, Bang, Squelch! with demonstrators guiding small groups through activities.

CHaOS regularly attracts over 3000 visitors of all ages in just 6 hours at the annual Cambridge Science Festival. CHaOS also visit schools, and travel throughout the UK for summer science roadshows.

Volunteers have been nominated in one of five categories. Mudit has been awarded a Year of the Volunteer medal for Innovation. "I was very surprised to receive this award, but am very honoured to do so. CHaOS is a fantastic organisation, and its success is down to the commitment and enthusiasm of the students who run it."

The 2,005 medal recipients throughout England have been shortlisted to 450 Regional Category Champions. All Regional Category Champions will be invited to attend a Year of the Volunteer celebration event in London in January 2006, where the overall Champion of each category will be announced on the night.

The Year of the Volunteer 2005 is co-ordinated by the Home Office in partnership with Volunteering England and CSV (Community Service Volunteers).The awards celebrate and acknowledge the contribution of volunteers in England.

The 2006 Cambridge Science Festival takes place from 15 to 26 March. A full listing of events will be on the website, www.cambridgescience.org, from January.

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