Two Liverpool academics have taken the message about how exciting science can be to an international audience.
Dr Helen Aspinall and Dr Helen Vaughan, both from the School of Physical Sciences, met with more than 1,000 school children from Malta, as part of the National Student Travel Foundation of Malta National Science Festival.
Dr Aspinall held a session with primary school pupils entitled ‘Molecules with No Manners’, introducing them to polymer chemistry and cross-linked PVA, making brightly coloured putty that makes rude (and hilarious) noises when squeezed.
Dr Vaughan took the University’s portable planetarium on its first inaugural overseas visit, the first professional planetarium to have been brought to Malta.
Both sessions proved very popular with pupils and their parents.
Helen said: “We had a really great response to the planetarium, which was provided by alumni donations to the Benefactors Fund. We even took it to a busy shopping centre, attracting more than 100 people to our impromptu show and receiving shouts of delight as we zoomed across the solar system.”
If you would like to know more about the Benefactors’ Fund, or would like to make a donation, please contact Dr Lisa Hannah-Stewart, Annual Giving Manager, on +44 (0)151 795 4638 or email: lisa.hannah-stewart@liverpool.ac.uk.