Computer Science students win LUSSAGO Science Jamboree award

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Students winning a prize at LUSSAGO Science Jamboree

We congratulate Computer Science students James Barber (Year 2) and Nathan Flaherty (PhD student) along with Joe Barnes (PhD student, Engineering), Beatrice Overend (Masters student, Biosciences) and Jack Woodward (Physics) who won an award at the LUSSAGO (the Student Scout and Guide Organisation) Science Jamboree for their work preparing boxes of science experiments for over 1200 Beavers, Rainbows, Cubs and Brownies as part of Science Jamboree 2021 in December 2021-January 2022.

As part of the SciJam Committee they were honoured to have been awarded the Committee Colander in recognition of the work they put into the project.

James said 'With COVID-19 meaning we were unable to hold the Science Jamboree in person again, the SciJam Committee came up with the idea to produce boxes of experiments for units to do in their unit meetings. Removing the in-person aspect of the event meant that we could open the event up to the entire country, and we had an astonishing response which led to the massive logistical challenge of packing boxes which included:

  • 2170 plant pots
  • 273 metres of copper tape
  • Almost 1000 LEDs
  • 2kg of cress seeds
  • and much more!.'

'With a small army of volunteers, the team spent over three days packing boxes and figuring out the logistics of delivering 120 boxes across Merseyside and Cheshire and posting the rest. Despite many delays to items arriving and almost half the Committee catching COVID over packing days, every box was delivered successfully, and 1530 young people and leaders have successfully earned their SciJam 2021 badge!'

'The boxes contained a variety of experiments devised by University of Liverpool societies: LUMOS (Marine Biology and Oceanography), Physics Outreach and Life Sciences Outreach (and thoroughly risk assessed by LUSSAGO!) Some highlights of the experiments included are:

  • Simulating the depths of the oceans to understand how and why sea creatures adapt
  • Creating light-up LED greeting cards and learning how circuits work
  • Growing different types of herbs and analysing how they all grow differently.'

The committee hope to run the next event in person, and we wish them the best of luck.