Science in the Park 2020

Published on 23/03/20 in Outreach

Wollaton Park, on Saturday 7th March 2020

March 6th-15th 2020 was British Science Week – a celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths across the UK, organised by the National British Science Association. In long standing tradition, the local branch of the BSA welcomed visitors to “Science in the Park” at Wollaton Park, on Saturday 7th March. This annual event was free to enter and allowed the whole family to enjoy interactive activities and live demonstrations from all branches of Science.

In past year’s about 7000 have attended the event, though numbers were down, due to the beginning of the Corona virus crisis, it is estimated that 300 parents and children visited the SBRC/CCnet stand to learn that not all bacteria are bad, and some can even be used to make useful products.

Team leader Ruth Cornock reports “Despite a small reduction in numbers, the event was still quite busy, and we had a continuous stream of visitors of all ages to the SBRC/CCNet stand, keen to learn more about what we do within our area of the university. Lots of children made their own microbes using plastcine and took them home in their very own petri dishes.  While this was going on we took the time to speak to parents and carers and other visitors about the importance of the gas fermentation work we do, and how it may help to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and fits into a circular economy. All conversations with visitors to the stand were very positive, and hopefully alleviate a few fears and concerns regarding the current events (COVID2019)!”

Feedback received: – 100% said they had a positive experience, 100% said they had no worries about the research, and 80% said they learned something new. Comments included “I want to learn more about bacteria” “I have learned that somethings are made by bacteria”

Special thanks go to CCnet team leaders Ruth Cornock and Claudio Tomin Andrino and their band of enthusiastic helpers:- Louise McCluskey, Swapnika Challa, Benjamin Myers, Ruth Griffin, Margaux Poulalier Delavelle, Liam Wood, Cynthia Akaluka and Francois Seys.