The Oxford Trust Makes Science Accessible
The Oxford Trust not only works to engage the general public with scientific issues through Science Oxford, its cultural centre on St Clements but also plays a key role in enhancing science in the schools' curriculum through its outreach programme.The recent National Science and Engineering Week is a prime example of the Trust's involvement on the science scene in the county. The first ever Oxfordshire Science Week attracted over 5000 people to more than 30 events between 6 and 15 March. Science Oxford, The Oxford Trust's public face, once again led the way, organising the launch event, which saw four of the UK's leading scientists debating how they would spend £2 billion to transform British Science. The winner of the public vote on the night was Oxfordshire's own Prof Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith, Director of UKAEA Culham.
Science Oxford also broke new ground during Oxfordshire Science Week with the first ever Transatlantic Poetry Slam. The auditorium was packed as Oxford's finest performance poets competed - via a live weblink - with the best that New York's Bowery Club had to offer. In a controversial decision, the judges eventually awarded the title to the New Yorkers, led by slam legend Taylor Mali.
Dominic McDonald, Head of Public Programmes at Science Oxford, said '2008 saw the Oxfordshire Science Festival take place during National Science and Engineering Week for the first time. We hoped it would focus our efforts and make the celebrations bigger and better than ever before. The early indications are that the experiment was a huge success, so much so that we have already started to plan for 2009!'
Oxfordshire County Science Day, which took place at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, enthused 11 to 14 year olds children from 18 schools in the county about the wonders of science and their applications in industry or research environments. The Oxford Trust shows involved students sitting on a bed of nails and firing projectiles across the room to illustrate key scientific concepts.
The students finished off their day by listening to some of the Trust's Science and Engineering Ambassadors talk about what their work involves. They showcased the range of science and technology available as career options with subjects ranging from animal welfare to the use opto-acoustic devices in CDs and plasma screens.
Bridget Holligan, Head of Schools Programmes at The Oxford Trust, said 'County Science Day brings science alive for the students. It is a great way for them to see how the science they learn in the classroom has an impact on their everyday lives.'