Tuesday, 11 February 2020
Getting up close to tarantulas, finding out how to make renewable plastics from microbes and an interactive brain funfair are just some of the activities on offer at Science in the Park at Wollaton Hall on 7th March.
The popular one-day event is being run by the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University as part of British Science Week and is a free, family friendly day packed full of activities to celebrate science, technology, engineering and maths.
Many of the activities give visitors the chance to get hands-on and the team from the University of Nottingham’s ‘Spiderlab’ will be showing their ‘Marvellous Minibeasts’. There will be tarantulas and scorpions on display, plus giant millipedes and hissing cockroaches for people who are brave enough to hold!
There will also be activities run by researchers from the Green Chemicals team showing how chemicals can be used in a more environmentally friendly way to create new products, with one activity where children can see how enzymes break down by using their spit to break down starch.
The wildlife of Wollaton Park will also be featured as part of the fair with Nottingham Trent University showing how ducks keep themselves dry on their Nature’s Raincoats exhibit. The activity draws inspiration from nature, using a stuffed duck and dried lotus leaves as examples, to show how nature can keep itself dry. RSPB will also be guiding a nature walk spotting some of the birds and habitats on the park.
Science in the Park is always hugely popular and we’re delighted to be bringing it to Wollaton Park again this year, which we can only do with the support of all our amazing volunteers. It’s a fantastic family event and is a great way to get children excited about science with plenty of hands-on activities that will get them thinking – and smiling!
For any budding scientists keen to share their ideas there is a Science Fair competition as part of the day which is an opportunity for children to use their imagination to create a science project and present it to an audience at the event – this could include creating a model, designing and experiment or making a poster. There are 3 categories and certificates and prizes are available for the best one in each category.
The event runs from 11am – 3pm on Saturday 7th March, for more information go to: Nottingham.ac.uk/go/science-in-the-park
Story credits
More information on the research is available from Dr Sam Tang, at Samantha.tang@nottingham.ac.uk or Jane Icke Media Relations Manager for the Faculty of Science at the University of Nottingham, on 0115 951 5751 or jane.icke@nottingham.ac.uk.
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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