Monday 1st October, saw Wycliffe College host lectures from Tim Harrison of Bristol University and John Kilcoyne from the University of Sunderland (more famously known as ‘the man in the shed’ from Sky1’s Brainiac TV show) on the benefits of fossil fuels, thermodynamics, beetles and the fun in science.
The lectures, which were enjoyed by more than 600 pupils from across Gloucestershire, weaved many of John’s jokes into clever science, fascinating facts and several experiments which set the place banging and bubbling before the pupils’ eyes.
The idea of ‘if it’s green and wiggles it’s biology, if it stinks and goes bang it’s chemistry and if it doesn’t work at all it’s physics’ set a light hearted, amusing tone to the otherwise incredibly interesting talk on things from toilet tea, (every cup of tea has molecules of water that have passed through someone else’s bladder!) to the spraying self-defensive beetle and banana hammers.
The lecture focused on the fact that science is, above all things, fun. Which was demonstrated by several explosions, bubbling tubes, bangs, sparks and of course a good dousing of liquid nitrogen, which induced screams, laughs and gasps of wonder.
Many thanks must go to John and Tim for their wonderful demonstrations and insightful lecture on the world of science, as well as the teachers who allowed it to go ahead in the safe knowledge that the curtains wouldn’t be set on fire!
Written by Wycliffe pupil, Hannah Sigston – Year 13
The schools which attended the event where from: Marling, Maidenhill, Horsely Primary, Bluecote School and Wycliffe Prep School.