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The Big Bang 2019

 March 14 2019 | Kent & Medway | Views: 2990

The Big Bang was a FREE day-long education event organised by The STEM Hub, (part of Canterbury Christ Church University) which took place on Friday, March 1st 2019, at the Discovery Park, with the aim of inspiring a love of STEM subjects.

The event featured 24 interactive drop-in stands and 9 workshops, allowing every student to gain insight into a range of ‘hands-on’ experiences including interactive exhibits and workshops, talks run by STEM Ambassadors from local companies and organisations.

Around 1000 students enjoyed the day’s activities and every student attended a 60 minute show, ‘Elements at Work’ by John Coad. The show studied elements, some pupils were aware of – lead, iron, copper and aluminum but also some rarer ones such as vanadium and neodymium. The non-metals such as hydrogen and oxygen made lots of fizzes, pops and bangs!

Students also enjoyed many other workshops including:

Brain Computer Interface – looking at how signals generated by facial muscle movement are used to control the movement of a humanoid robot: “I really enjoyed watching the robot and how it was programmed”

Bridge Design and Construction with Royal Engineers Museum – a challenge to build a simple bridge, that can withstand as much weight as possible: “I enjoyed the various activities, especially bridge building as I won”

Chemical Challenge with Pfizer – designing an experiment to identify an unknown powder, helping to teach the principles of chemical changes: “I understood that there is more to science and I really enjoyed it”

Cool Science with University of Kent – an interactive liquid nitrogen show: “I enjoyed the liquid nitrogen – I love science”

CRP Simulation with Health Education England – looking at the relevant chemical changes that are occurring in the body:
“I enjoyed going in the ambulance and doing CPR and saving a person”

Cyber Choice with ERSOU Cyber Prevent – an interactive quiz in order to understand the consequences and impact of cybercrimes:

“I loved the code cracker thank you”

Finger Printing with CCCU Forensics – demonstrating how to collect evidence as the basic of identification:

“I really enjoyed identifying fingerprints”

Insects and Skulls and Squishy Blood…it’s all in Science with CCCU Life Science – investigating science by looking at insects with infrared camera, closely examining skulls, and looking at the components of human blood!:

“I liked the way that there is way more to plants and animals than I thought”

You Say Tomato with A Pearson Growers – introducing intense tomato production, demonstrating biological control, pollination, photosynthesis, plant steering and the carbon cycle and where our food comes from:

“I enjoyed looking and learning about the bees and plants”

Students also enjoyed the drop-in zones with exhibits provided by:
Canterbury Christ Church University: Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, Business School, Allied Health Professions Operating Department Practice and Engineering, Hilderstone Radio Society, Royal Engineers, STEM Ambassador Hub, The University of Greenwich, The University of Kent – Kent and Medway Medical School, East Kent Hospital University Foundation Trust, Royal Society of Biology, Costain Group, Kent Mining Museum, Kent Fire and Rescue, A-one+ and JC White Geomatics Limited, Dreamland Margate, and EDF Energy

Feedback from students:

  • “It was amazing today to find out things I didn’t know. Science is way more interesting now to me than it was before. So thank you for all the people that have made science interesting. Thank you”
  • “I loved finding out about all the different STEM jobs”
  • “I loved it ! It was so fun! Thank you to everyone who is here when I went into the building I thought this will be amazing. This trip was the best! I loved all the activities, thank you”
  • “I loved EVERYTHING”

Feedback from STEM Ambassadors:

  • “I was delighted to be part of this event – CCCU Business School ”
  • “The team from the Kent Mining Museum had a great time participating in the drop in zone at the Big Bang. It was the first time we’d attended and we were really impressed with the organisation and smooth-running of the event considering the large numbers of participants. The layout of the drop in zone was great and we had plenty of space with all the resources we asked for were present and correct before we got there which is always brilliant – Kent Mining Museum”
  • “The team did really well in putting in another success” – STEM Ambassador support
  • “Help and support given by the STEM team as always spot on” – A Pearson Growers

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