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All of our STEM activities, in one place
The current coronavirus pandemic has severely curtailed our outreach activities for 2020. This blog is a summary of all of our STEM activities since 2014. There’s an awful lot that we have achieved, and this part of our web site captures the stories and the activities. Use the links below, or search the tag clouds on the right..
Marvellous molecules at the VG&M!
On Tuesday 28th August, six members from the Centre for Proteome Research in IIB held a VG&M summer science club session for local primary school children.
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.St Michael's School Fair
St Michael's Church of England High School Science Fair.
Back at the VG&M! Summer Science Club!
Every year the Victoria Gallery and Museum at the University of Liverpool hosts a Summer Science Club with a session per week for six weeks. Each session is hosted by a different group from the University and four members of CPR volunteered to host a Proteomics session. There were 12 students aged nine to 11 who attended the two hour session, having a go at hands-on activities all centered around DNA, proteins and diagnosing diseases.
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Judging at the Big Bang
Continuing on from the success of previous years, All About STEM again hosted the North West heat of the Big Bang competition at the Echo Area. The turnout of students and the quality of projects presented was fantastic, making Victoria Harman’s job as head judge very difficult indeed. The hard work of the students was abundantly clear and some brilliant projects were put forward for the finals.
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Winstanley STEM day
For the second year running, a group of staff and students from CPR presented multiple activities, information and answered questions at Winstanley College’s STEM day. Two members also hosted an SDS-PAGE workshop where students, in groups of 3 or 4, where instructed in how to run SDS-PAGE gels, and were able to analyse their own samples.
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Lupe wins a Biochemical Society Outreach grant
Dr. Guadalupe Gómez Baena, a postdoctoral research associate in CPR, has won a Scientific Outreach Grant from the Biochemical Society.
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VG&M Summer Science Club
Five members of the Centre for Proteome Research ran the first of six science club sessions hosted at the Victoria Gallery & Museum. The session was entitled “Beyond the Cell” and was attended by 13 students aged between seven and 10. We started out the afternoon by introducing the students to the concept of our DNA being stored in the nucleus of our cells – to accompany this idea the students extracted DNA from strawberries and made DNA models from sweeties. We then talked about DNA being the code for proteins and how there are different types of proteins in our bodies. The students matched descriptions of proteins to the types of “sample” were that protein might be found. We also used jelly beans to demonstrate how different amounts of proteins, or the presence of a new protein, could help us to diagnose a disease. To round off the afternoon the students tried out three different analysis techniques – testing the pH of household solutions using red cabbage indicator, running dyes and inks on paper chromatography, and measuring the travel time of differently weighted marbles on a model mass spectrometer. We really wanted to encourage the students to ask as many questions as possible and try to think like scientists, any they absolutely loved the hands-on activities, especially those involving sweets!
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It’s all about the actors, darling!
In May, Rob delivered a Cafe Scientifique talk at Glasgow’s Tron Theatre. Read on to find out what he thought about it, especially talking without slides!
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Freemason visit to CPR
Freemasons visit CPR as part of their work to support research into heart diseases.
Victoria judging the Big Bang NW 2015
Victoria Harman was one of four head judges for the North West heat of the Big Bang competition, hosted by All About STEM..
Of scripts, actors, costumes and prostheses
A small correction.
Winstanley College Interviews
On March 16th, ten CPR members were interviewed by students from Winstanley College (who came bearing biscuits - they anticipated us well!) to discuss their work, their careers thus far, and their motivations in science. .
CPR engagement with STEM
CPR is engaged in a major development in STEM activities..
CPR on the BBC
Beccy Miller and Gemma Davidson both acted as scientist helpers for the recent BBC Horizon Special “What’s the right diet for you?”.
Andrew Miller, MP, visits CPR
Mr Andrew Miller, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, visited CPR with Prof Sarah Coupland and her team..