Dr Who experiment fires up enthusiasm

Brighton Science Festival director Richard Robinson demonstrates sound PICTURE: MAXINE SILVER

Pupils in years seven and eight at Steyning Grammar School were encouraged to discover, explore, experiment and create, all in the name of science.

The visit to the Church Street site last Monday was part of the Brighton Science Festival, with festival director Richard Robinson and Creative Science’s Jonathon Hare teaching students all about sound and how it is created.

The youngsters, aged 11 to 13, tmade their own synthesizers and used them to recreate the Dr Who theme tune.

Students at Steyning Grammar School's Church Street site carry out a sound experiment PICTURE: MAXINE SILVER

Scott Robinson, key stage three science leader at the school, said: “The visit by the Brighton Science Festival is an exceptional opportunity for our pupils to experience science in the real world.

“Jonathon and Richard are an engaging duo who had the pupils transfixed throughout. The feedback from pupils and staff alike has been very positive.”

The visit was so successful, the school is planning to invite the festival team back next year, on a bigger and grander scale, involving an entire year group and other faculties.

The Brighton Science Festival started eight years ago and it has been used to help fire up primary school students’ enthusiasm for science.

Mr Robinson explained: “It’s the best way to discover where we came from, deal with where we are and debate where we might go in the future.

“There are some extraordinary and inspiring science communicators out there, and we search all the festivals and publishers in Britain to bring the best to Brighton.

“The Brighton Science Festival is building its own bridges between science and the people, to make science completely irresistible to young students.”

In January, the festival runs science workshops in schools all over Sussex, presenting a new challenge each year.

This year, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Moog Synthesizer, students made their own electronic musical instrument, learned how sound is made and then recreated the Dr Who theme tune on their handmade synthesizer.

The festival opens today and runs until March 3. Visit www.brightonscience.com for more information.