"WHY CAN'T ALL PHYSICS LESSONS BE AS GOOD AS THIS?"

That was the excited reaction of one of the students from an Eastbourne school attending the Schools Science Event 2015, organised as part of the Annual Conference and arranged and coordinated by the Schools Outreach Working Group under the leadership of Heather Hale. "It was great to see so many young people getting involved, interested and excited about the study of science", she said.

Over 300 students, teachers and scientists gathered for a celebration of radiation safety, the Science of Radiation Protection, at the Devonshire Park Centre.  Visitors were able to take part in hands-on science activities while they met and talked to radiation protection professionals from hospitals, universities, the emergency services and the nuclear industry.

Feedback from students and teachers was very positive. Eastbourne College tweeted "a great event, our pupils loved it".

Watch what happened on the day (film below).

The highlight of the day was the stage show, "Our Radioactive World". The presentation team of Dr Steph Bloomer and Sarah Hunak from Amec Foster Wheeler together with Dr Mike Wood from the University of Salford took the audience and on-stage student volunteers through a series of interactive demonstrations featuring how naturally radioactivity is found in the most unlikely materials and how simple techniques are used to safeguard people who work with radiation.

A demonstration of the exponential nature of radioactive decay using discs thrown onto the stage proved a challenge to mount in a Victorian theatre. Theatres of that era have a sloping stage, so there was a risk that the discs would roll into the orchestra pit. The risk was contained using the show’s own version of a cooling pond, a large inflatable paddling pool, manhandled on stage by Mr Radioactive Man, a scene stealing performance from Shaun Lenden.  Shaun later endured a barrage of bombardment from one local student, who proved a crack shot with a NERF gun, the fun stand-in for a radiation beam used to demonstrate the effects of time, distance and shielding.

Able on stage support was also provided by RGG members Jess Revill, Claire Stephens and Chris Jones.

Thoughts are now turning to next year’s event. New ideas for future Schools Lectures are always welcome as are volunteers to help out.

View the film from the whole lecture below.

For more information on the day or if you want photos taken at the event, please email charlene.matthewman@srp-uk.org.