Hands-on Science/Engineers/Maths Workshops

Physical World

Bright Sparks

The students investigate what frogs and cola drinks have in common as they make their own batteries from common household materials. We test the different voltages produced by their batteries and discuss what these numbers means compared with voltages of things they use at home.

Mind Reading Maths

This workshop is suitable for first year in secondary school.
The students are introduced to the concept of logic and of using the information you have to find out an unknown. Other number bases are introduced. The students make mind reading cards which are based on binary numbers. How the cards work is explained to stronger student groups.

Architectural Maths

Domes are strong shapes which have been known about for centuries however from Roman times until the 20th century there were no developments in dome technology. That all changed in the early 20th century when geodesic domes were discovered. These domes are very light for their strength. In this workshops the students will build a geodesic dome from paper.

Focus on Forces—Tensile Strength Measurement

How strong is paper? How strong is glue? How strong are jellies? In this workshop the students will learn how to use their knowledge of the density of water to make accurate weights and will develop a fair test to evaluate the strength of jelly sweets to give a result in standard force units.

Make your own calculator

For centuries mathematicians have been trying to simplify and remove the tedium from arithmetic calculations. Electronic calculators have done this for us. In this workshop you will find out how mathematicians did this long before the discovery of electricity and electronics and you will make your own calculator which you can use to change any multiplication sum into an addition one. This workshop is suitable for 1st to 2nd year.

Biological World

Bioengineering – make a hand

Prosthetic limbs have improved over the past few decades from hooks which were strapped onto the arm with no functionality to mind controlled operational hands. In this workshop the students will consider the structure of the hand and make hands with bones, joints and tendons which can move and even catch a ball.

Chemical World

Pharmaceutical Science

Using acids, bases and indicators each student becomes a technician working in a pharmaceutical laboratory where a new ointment is being developed. The task of the student is to work out how much ointment is required to relieve the condition.

Chemical Synthesis

Potassium sodium tartrate, commonly known as Rochelle Salt, is an interesting salt with used in the food and renewable energy industry. It also forms interestingly large crystals. In this workshop the students synthesise the salt and then leave it to crystallize.

Forensics Science – CSI

This workshop introduces the students to the work of scientists in forensic labs. It covers tests such as chromatography and acid base testing and the students then use their laboratory skills to work out who committed a crime.

Earth and Space

Space Science—Water Management

Water management is quite an issue for space travel and astronauts. In this workshop the students investigate the absorbing power of hydro-gels and the recycling of this absorbed water for future use.

Space Science—The Atmosphere

In this workshop the students learn about the composition and density of the atmosphere on Earth, Mars and Venus. They make a model of the atmosphere of all 3 planets and then investigate some of the issues that would arise for inhabitants of Mars or Venus.

Space Science—Food

In this workshop the students will learn about the issues that arise with regard to providing food for the astronauts and for eating and drinking in a zero or low gravity environment. In spite of this nutrition is very important. The students will make and evaluate a space dinner.