Reach for the stars

As well as enjoying lectures on topics including the sounds of the universe and the fact that the sun is a star, the school students will get a guided tour of the University's telescopes and an inside view of the latest research being carried out by top Cambridge astronomers.

The 120 students will even be able to do their own astronomical experiments to calculate the age of the universe, for example, and measure the force of gravity.

The conference is free of charge and has been organised by the University of Cambridge Institute of Astronomy, which hopes to encourage youngsters to develop a passion for maths and science through the inspirational subjects of astronomy.

Dr Lisa Jardine-Wright, from the Institute of Astronomy, said: "School students sometimes find it hard to see how what they're studying in the classroom is relevant in the real world, but astronomy is a fantastic example of where maths and science meet in a very exciting way.

"Students are amazed when they realise that the maths they're learning at school has actually equipped them with the tools they need to work out the age of the universe. We very much hope today will encourage them to continue studying maths and science subjects at school and to give serious thought to studying astronomy at university."

This is the second 'The Earth Is Not Enough' conference of 2005; around 120 Key Stage 4 students (aged 14-16) attended a similar event last month.

The final conference in the series takes place on 8 July and is aimed at primary and secondary school teachers, with lectures, demonstrations and practical tips on teaching the astronomy elements of the science and maths curriculum.

'The Earth Is Not Enough' conferences are funded by SCS Astro, the Royal Astronomical Society and the University of Cambridge Institute of Astronomy.