One thousand Lincolnshire school pupils have signed up for Lincoln: Get Hold of Technology and Science (LiGHTS)!
Lincoln University Technical College (UTC) is bringing a group of students to the one-day expo on Friday 29th September at the University of Lincoln.
The UTC is the 20th school to register with the event organisers, who hope the day of free activities will encourage young people to study science and technology in the future.
LiGHTS 2017, which is designed to appeal to curious minds of all ages – not just schools, will build on the success of last year’s event by featuring more than 50 free activities ranging from hands-on demonstrations and exhibitions through to lectures and film screenings.
Part-funded by the European Commission, LiGHTS is one of several hundred events taking place on European Researchers’ Night, which aims to promote careers in science and research. As well as the University of Lincoln, the Rome Planetarium, the Royal Botanic Garden Juan Carlos I in Madrid and London’s Natural History Museum have staged events in previous years.
Paul Batterbury, Interim Principal at Lincoln UTC, is pleased Lincoln UTC will be attending: “As a specialist Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics school for 14 to 18 year olds, many of our students want to go to University and continue their studies. By attending LiGHTS, which is being organised by one of our founding sponsors, we are not only strengthening that relationship and progression path but also opening the eyes of our pupils to the amazing work that happens at the University of Lincoln. I am sure it will be a very interesting and informative day, not just for our students, but for everyone who goes along.”
LiGHTS is being co-ordinated by Professor Carenza Lewis, Professor for the Public Understanding of Research at the University of Lincoln, who is keen for people of all ages and backgrounds to visit the one-day expo. “LiGHTS isn’t just for school children, though a lot of the programme is designed with the national curriculum in mind. We want to open our doors to curious minds of all ages and show people what amazing things happen here at the University, from our work on cancer treatments through to robotics, there really is something for everyone.”
The LiGHTS website – www.lights.wordpress.uat.lincoln.ac.uk – features the full programme of free activities along with details of how schools and groups with special interests can register their attendance.
Some of the amazing activities on offer during LiGHTS include:
Understanding Evolution
Interactive detective session with a primate psychologist about Darwin, monkeys and evolution.
Meet MARC
Compete in a game of rock, paper, scissors against this robotic player.
Skeletons In The Cupboard
What can we learn from human bones? Find out by examining archaeological skeletons excavated from Lincoln.
Myths And Science Of Sleep
By the age of three, we’ve become experts at sleeping, having spent 10,000 hours asleep. So why do so many people struggle to get a good night’s sleep?
The Building Blocks Of Food
Learn how to use detergent and alcohol to extract DNA from everyday food, and take home a souvenir tube of that DNA!
Science In Song
A performance by the University of Lincoln students of music, ranging from Bartok to the Beastie Boys – all inspired by technology and science.
Tours Of The University Of Lincoln Laboratories
Individuals and small groups wanting to attend LiGHTS do not need to book in advance. However, groups over 10 and school teachers wanting to bring their class to LiGHTS should email lights@lincoln.ac.uk or call 01522 837 180 to discuss their requirements with the University of Lincoln LiGHTS coordinator.