London Metropolitan University has collaborated with Middlesex University, Royal Veterinary College and University of Hull to host science expo
Date: 11 May 2016
Over 300 year 8 students from schools across London attended a science expo to raise awareness about science, technology, engineering and maths.
Organised by London Met’s Outreach, Events and Widening Participation Team, the event invites children from families who have never gone into Higher Education to attend the expo, which is packed with fun experiments such a slime making, creating DNA strands from sweets and extracting strawberry DNA.
Ellie Davids, one of the students who took part, said: “I really enjoyed today and it’s been fun. I loved the virtual reality workshop – it was my favourite.”
One of the workshops on offer was an oculus rift virtual reality tour where students wore a pair of goggles and could navigate their way around a virtual world.
Another popular workshop was synthesising polymers, a complex method where molecules are combined together to form a long chain. Students were challenged to see who could create the longest chain by stirring a pot of polymers. Two students from Arts and Media School in Islington said: “Today has been fun. Our favourite activity was making DNA out of sweets because you got to eat them afterwards.”
Other workshops included a career advice booth, where students had the chance to ask any questions they had, and a forensics crime scene.
“London Met are committed to engaging with students outside the University and the STEM expo is a perfect example of that,” said Suman Uddin, Schools and Colleges Recruitment Officer at London Met.
“Students who don't traditionally come from families who have been to university were invited to attend and this is a great opportunity for London Met to reach out to those students.”
The expo is part of AccessHE’s Capital Access Project which aims to bring Higher Education Institutes, schools and local authorities together to collaborate on widening participation activities.
The event is funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, an organisation which funds teaching and research in higher education institutes.
The day was split into two sessions and Isi Adeola, Royal Veterinary College, opened and concluded both the morning and the afternoon session.
