Thousands visit NEWI for Wrexham Science and Technology Week
31 March 2006
Thousands of people visited the NEWI campus last week for Wrexham Science and Technology Week. The week which ran from 20th to 25th March covered talks, demonstrations and exhibitions on a range of topics from the weird and wacky through to exploring energy use and the technology of the future.
Popular events for the adults included the lecture that was given by Britain’s most informed Egyptologist, Dr Kate Spence on the impact of Hatshepsut, Egypt’s female king and the talk on the life and achievements of Michael Faraday by a leading Michael Faraday Royal Institution researcher and spokesperson, Dr Frank James. Whilst the kids meanwhile enjoyed Pretty Pretty Bang Bang which provided an explanation of how fireworks are created and gave people the opportunity to see a firework demonstration and Energy: Snap, Crackle and Bang by NEWI’s Dr Stan Moore which demonstrated energy use through a number of fun experiments. Other highlights included the ever popular Fenns and Whixhall Mosses slideshow, the showing of science fiction films, the science of alcohol and interactive presentations on the science of sound.
The grand finale of the week was the renowned Scientriffic day last Saturday which attracted families from all over Wrexham and its surrounding counties. A fun day was had by all, with many people getting to grips with the bright yellow Burmese python and its fellow reptile and marine creatures and taking part in a whole host of interactive experiments.
Many people were fascinated by NEWI’s forensic science students’ reconstruction of a crime scene and took part in the organised forensic trail. Others were shocked to find out how much salt was in their food at NEWI’s Science department display. Techniquest@NEWI’s marble race was popular with many kids determined to build the world’s slowest track and Wrexham Cytun’s ‘The Wonder of Music’ display provided a fun way to develop children’s interest in music. The Maelor Angling Society soon got people having a go at fly dressing and many people got plastered for the day by the Wrexham Maelor Hospital Facture Clinic.
The atmosphere of the day was added to by Wrexham’s newest radio station Calon FM who broadcasted throughout the day providing visitors with a variety of music and information about the day’s events and exhibits.
Helen James, winner of the Science and Technology Woman of the Year 2005, is the Chairperson of the Wrexham Science and Technology Week Committee. Speaking this week about the event she said "I am delighted by the success of Wrexham Science and Technology Week at NEWI. We had a great week and received a lot of positive feedback from visitors that attended the lectures during the week and on Scientriffic day. It is great to see so many people taking an interest in science and encouraging youngsters to get involved and learn more. This week provided the ideal way for everyone to learn something new about science and shows how science affects us all. It has certainly kept the interest in science alive in Wrexham ready for an even better full Wrexham Science Festival next year. I would like to thank everyone who made this week possible; their support and hard work enabled this varied and exciting programme to take place”.