Gurgling guts, electricity, snot, pus and blood!

The Cambridge Science Festival Schools Roadshow programme kicked off last week with a Schools Hub at Sawston Village College on Thursday 1 March.  Academics from the University of Cambridge led exciting workshops, giving science talks and demonstrations to pupils from six primary schools and from Sawston Village College.

Using experiments, movies and props, Dr Rebecca Fitzgerald and Dr Pierre Lao-Sirieix of the Hutchinson-MRC Research Centre delivered “Gurgling guts: the disgusting journey of your food” to groups of about eighty students in years 5 and 6. Pushing balls along a pair of tights, mixing bread and acid in plastic bags, and crushing biscuits through a sieve, Fitzgerald and Pierre led students in an exploration of food’s journey through the body.

“The hub events are designed to excite young people and enthuse them about science,” said Sue Long, Festivals and Outreach Officer at the University of Cambridge. “Gurgling Guts never fails to produce a reaction!”

“I thought parts of it were disgusting – but cool,” one student said. “I learnt a new word, too: ‘oesophagus’.”

Dan Wilkins of the Institute of Astronomy explored the electromagnetic spectrum with keystage 3 students and David Bebb of CHaOS (Cambridge Hands-on Science) talked about “The shocking science of electricity” with local primary school students.  Ed Roberts, biologist at the Wellcome Trust Immunology Unit, gave a talk called Blood, snot and pus, using pictures, videos and interactive activities – including a make-your-own-snot exercise!  “They get quite involved; the children get so into the interactive parts,” said Ed.

“This is so fun – it feels just like snot!,” said a year 5 pupil. “I wish we could do this all the time at school.”

“I thought the demonstrations were really clear, and it’s great for the children to be able to come to a secondary school for the day,” commented a teacher from Stapleford Primary School.  “Those that don’t take in very much from just reading in a book learn so much here.”

“It was wonderful to see the primary pupils engaged and enjoying science,” said Gary Whitton, Head of Science at Sawston Village College.“From gurgling guts and mucus to the colours of the Universe, this was an event to inspire the next generation of scientists.”

The Hubs are part of the Science Festival Team’s schools outreach activities which include Masterclasses, Roadshows and Schools Zone.