I have used a small amount of the money to help me with a brilliant idea for the Cheltenham for the science festival. A group of about 8 of us did some `Science Busking’ – that is turning up unannounced at venues (mostly pubs) and getting people talking about science in bars, cafes, and in the street. It went really well!
http://www.scandle.eu/news/science-2018down-the-pub2019-at-the-cheltenham-science-festival
I built and took along a number of small portable demos to help with this, the photo shows me beginning to solder one of these together. It is a lot of work and some of the bits are pricey, but the nice thing about small portable gear is that it can be used over and over again in many situations, like school visits, so it is worth putting in time and effort to build it properly.
While I was at the festival I got together with old friends (including Steve Mould from Blue Peter, and Marieke Navin who was also an I’m a Scientist … contestant) to do a great show about science and the oceans (picture attached).
Building a small portable demo
A month later I had the chance to help out with the BBC/Open University ‘Bang Goes The Theory’ roadshow which was great fun.
The main part of the money is going towards an idea called ‘The Brain Game’ which has already visited two schools, and there are plans to take it to the Edinburgh and Cheltenham Science Festivals in 2011.
‘The Brain Game’ tries to make it fun to learn about neurons! It really is fun, you guys will have to trust me on this until you get the chance to see the show.
Breaking news: The latest trial run for “The Brain Game” went really well. It is a really tricky presentation to pull off as it has some complex ideas in it.
I have also been asked to develop something new for Science Week 2011 aimed at year 6-8 students called “The supermarket Scientist”
https://sites.google.com/site/mcoath/public-science/the-supermarket-scientist
Some of the work I did for the busking at Cheltenham last year can be re-used for this presentation so the money has helped there as well.
BTW: The report above mentions a picture of the “Sea of Science” show, but there clearly wasn’t room for it. You can find pictures here:
https://sites.google.com/site/mcoath/public-science/tfk/sea-of-science
Cheers m’dears
MC
The Brain Game goes to Cheltenham!
t is now confirmed that ‘The Brain Game’ will be part of the school’s program for the Cheltenham Science Festival this year. I don’t have a date yet, but the detailed schedule will be released by the organisers in the next few days.
Look forward to seeing y’all there. If you want to make me look good get on to the box office and make it a sell out in the first hour! 🙂
Can’t wait for the big live chat! I’m so keen to answer questions