MAKING volcanoes and bath-bombs, along with observing things under a microscope, are just some of the many activities people in the upper dale can look forward to when they attend a science fair next month.
Utass (Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services) has teamed up with Durham University evolutionary anthropologist Prof Sarah Elton to host the fair during national science week, on Monday, March 9.
Prof Elton, who has already been working with Utass’ youth club for the past two years, said the fair was made possible when a successful bid for a £1,000 grant was made to the British Science Association.
She said: “The children have planned it and they have done some posters. They have planned science activities like making volcanoes and bath-bombs.
“There will be various activities around the main hall at Utass.”
Although the fair is targeted at all age groups and families, the goal is to get more young people interested in science.
She said: “I am very keen to get kids to stay in Teesdale but to do something scientific. They can go off to university but come back to the upper dale with scientific skills.”
Prof Elton’s association with Utass began after she met the charity manager Diane Spark about two years ago. Since then she has been doing monthly activities with Utass’ youth club for children aged between eight and 12.
One of the activities saw a forensic anthropologist colleague set up a forensic tent.
Prof Elton said: “It was quite funny.
“They all wore their white suits and there were a few plastic bones scattered around the playpark, when a police car drove came by.”
Half of the cash grant will go towards hosting the science fair, while the remainder will be for equipment and consumables, such as petri dishes, microscope slides and bicarbonate of soda to make bottle rockets, for the youth club’s monthly science activities.
A possible trip to the Hancock Museum, in Newcastle, is also being considered.
The science fair runs from 6pm to 8pm at the Utass office, in Middleton-in-Teesdale.
For more information contact Utass on 01833 641010.
