School pupils discover the wonder of science at fun days

Hundreds of mini-scientists were welcomed to the University of Essex’s Colchester Campus to discover the vital role of microbiology for human health and in the natural world as part of British Science Week and Healthcare Science Week.

Organised by the School of Life Sciences and Centre for Healthcare Science, the fun days aimed to inspire the next generation of healthcare and environmental scientists by giving youngsters from five local schools insights into researching public health, genomics and ecology. 

As part of the fun days they had the chance to undertake experiments in specialist labs and explore the biodiversity of the University’s beautiful campus at Wivenhoe Park. They also now have the chance to participate in Europe-wide research on air quality by putting all the skills they learnt at the fun days into action back in their own classrooms. 

The fun days, supported by funding from NHS England, the Microbiology Society, and InChildHealth, were part of a packed week of events across Essex and south Suffolk showcasing exciting scientific career opportunities and bringing healthcare scientists together to discuss opportunities within the sector.

Over 200 children took part in the fun days from Broomgrove Junior School, Great Clacton Church of England Junior School, Tendring Primary School, Unity Primary Academy, and Wix and Wrabness Primary School.

Dr Lizzie Archer, Science Fun Day organiser from the School of Life Sciences, said: “Throughout the science fun days, hundreds of pupils discovered the wonder and importance of microbes to health, nature and even many food items - including chocolate! Through peering down the microscope, sequencing Lego DNA, growing bacteria and more, we hope to have inspired the pupils to pursue careers across healthcare, microbiology and environmental sciences.”

Outreach lead for the Centre for Healthcare Science Olivia Solanke said: “Students got a taste of what it is like to be a real scientist and what it might be like to go to university to study. We got them involved in lots of fun, interactive, science-themed activities from training in microbial air sampling so they can test their own classrooms to doing nature walks to learn about their local biodiversity.”

Professor Berne Ferry from the Centre for Healthcare Science said: “We were pleased to have the chance to showcase the incredible work happening in healthcare science, and help raise the profile of the diverse range of roles available.”

Dr Rob Ferguson, from the School of Life Sciences, added: “It was great to see 100s of mini-scientists learn about the positive and negative impacts of microbes in the environment around them. After lab training, they were given kits so that they could join children across Europe in taking samples of the air in their classrooms that they will send back to us for analysis.”

InChildHealth receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and from the United Kingdom Research and Innovation. Dr Archer received an Education and Outreach Grant from the Microbiology Society.