Light up the night!
Friday 30 September 2011By Marie-Claire Micuta, University of Huddersfield
They came in their thousands to sample the excitement of research.
Families flocked to the University of Huddersfield for its action-packed Researchers’ Night, which drew more than 2,000 visitors to the campus for encounters with spiders, sheep and scientists...
A laser show and a firework display lit up the sky and the campus buildings were filled with bright ideas and illuminating activities. The hope is that youngsters will have been switched on to science and gained an idea of the excitement of a career in research.
Also, a world record was established. Six wool spinners, equipped with hand-powered wheels, set out to produce the longest continuous yarn possible in the course of an hour. Winner Ruth Gough, of Wentworth, near Rotherham, managed 99.45 metres. A representative of Guinness World records was present, and Ruth’s yarn spinning feat will be officially registered. Meanwhile, a flock of sheep was herded on to campus to show visitors where it all began.
The theme of the EU-funded Researchers’ Night was “Living in a Material World”, and the aim was to demonstrate the importance and excitement of material science. There were lectures and demonstrations by University of Huddersfield experts and special guests on topics that included the science of dyeing, neutron physics, chemistry, forensics and battlefield archaeology.
Among the highlights was a demonstration of how spiders spin silk and one of the concluding events was a fashion show at which the catwalk models wore clothes created during a special workshop showing how garments can be customised and recycled.
Hands-on activities included a research station set up by a team from the award-winning Eureka! children’s museum. There were writing and art competitions and an opportunity to play a brand new computer game entitled Research Rampage, created by students at the University’s award-winning Canalside Studios. Details of competitions and the names of winners are at http://www.hud.ac.uk/researchersnight/competitions/winners/.
Researchers’ Night takes place annually at specially selected universities and institutions across Europe. The University of Huddersfield was awarded 75,000 Euros from the European Union to stage the event. It joined hundreds of institutions across 32 countries, but was one of only four in the UK who hosted a Researchers’ Night in 2011 and it was the only one in Yorkshire.
A number of schools formed a special link with the University, as a way of enthusing pupils about science. For example, as a result of Researchers’ Night, a visit and special lecture by one of the university’s professors will take place at Whitcliffe Mount Business and Enterprise College, Cleckheaton. Youngsters at Greetland Academy, a primary school, were especially enthusiastic entrants into Researchers’ Night competitions, as were pupils at Moor End Academy, Huddersfield, which specialises in the learning and teaching of design, technology, mathematics and science.
There was plenty of enthusiasm from youngsters who attended Researchers’ Night. “It was awesome,” said one. “This is the best day of my life,” said another, and a four-year-old commented that “spiders are lovely!” Adult visitors too enjoyed the event. John Torley from Huddersfield commented: “My children really enjoyed the Research Rampage game and I particularly enjoyed the lecture on silk. It's been over 20 years since I attended a lecture and thoroughly enjoyed it! All in all, it was an excellent event for the whole family.”
A popular feature of the event was a special Researchers Photo Booth where visitors could have their picture taken alongside a top scientist.... Albert Einstein was the most popular photo buddy.
The University of Huddersfield’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Slee, said: “Researchers’ Night created an international community of four million people in 320 cities and 32 countries, all brought together on one night to discover what goes on in the laboratories and workshops of our Universities.
What they learned was that ordinary people do extraordinary jobs as scientists, technologists, artists and designers, to improve the lives of their communities.”