Primary school pupils are turning detective today to investigate why different materials' properties make them better suited to some jobs than others.

Year 5 and Year 6 students, aged nine to 11, from Isleham Primary School in Cambridgeshire will carry out a range of experiments to test the heat and electrical conductivity, magnetism, hardness and density of different materials, such as metal, wood and plastic.

The young Materials Detectives' results will help them solve a 'crime' by identifying which of their 'suspects' was carrying material with the properties known to have been involved in the incident.

The Materials Detectives day has been organised by Science and Engineering Experiments for Kids (SeeK), which is based in the University of Cambridge and runs activities promoting science, including schools workshops and demonstration lectures. The activities are open to any primary school within Cambridgeshire and north Essex. SeeK also runs family events during the annual Cambridge Science Festival, which this year takes place from 16-23 March.

SeeK's directors, Rob Wallach and Lianne Sallows, said:

"SeeK is all about bringing the excitement of science and engineering to school children, to show them that science and engineering feats are all around us and to demonstrate that these subjects, seen by the pupils as something they only do at school, are important to our everyday lives.

"The interaction between the children and the scientists is very important. For many children, it is the first time they have met someone who is passionate about the scientific field they study or work in, and so the scientists are excellent role models. But we also find that the University scientists and student volunteers who help us run these events often discover an interest in non-research science-based careers, such as teaching and educational posts in museums."

SeeK also works with the University's Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy. Last month, 32 Year 10 students (aged 14 and 15) from across the UK attended the first ever Smallpeice MATERIALS@cam residential course, supported by the Smallpeice Trust. The aim was to give them an insight into materials science by showing a variety of its real-life applications, as well as offering a taste of academic life as a Cambridge undergraduate through lectures, laboratory experiments and make-and-build projects.

SeeK is always looking for sponsorship, volunteer helpers and donations to help with its work. For more information, visit the SeeK website.

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