US professor impressed by county’s kids
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THE biggest science festival in the North of Scotland is expected to be the best to date with hundreds of people across the county set to attend events.
The Caithness International Science Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary by holding its first-ever public fairs in Thurso and Wick at the weekend.
Organised by local charity Science O3, the annual event aims to promote science, technology, engineering and maths to schools and the general public.
The public fairs consisted of demonstrations, talks and workshops and involved 15 different science-based organisations together with four key speakers who delivered lectures to the public.
Science O3 chairman Professor Iain Baikie said that organisers were thrilled with the response they received at Thurso’s Caithness Horizons and at the Assembly Rooms, and is sure this level of interest will continue throughout the week.
"There were lots of stands and great talks which created a real buzz around Thurso and Wick at the weekend," he said.
The festival involves 22 schools, 24 presenters and over a 1000 competition entries and continues to grow in popularity.
"The festival is about discovering what science is all about and experiencing interaction with various aspects of science," said Prof Baikie.
"Our presenters have been working together with schoolchildren from across Caithness where they have given some inspirational talks and kept the children fascinated."
One of the highlights this year is the participation of Professor Louise Dolan, from the University of North Carolina, who has visited secondary school students at Wick and Thurso to talk about her work and career.
She delivered a lecture entitled "What is inside the proton" which proved highly informative and entertaining for students.
She said that she is delighted to have been invited to take part and is taken aback by the interest which exists in the Far North for the subject.
"It is extremely heartening to talk with and work with young people who have shown so much enthusiasm for science," she said.
"The great thing about science is that it gives you a flexibility of where you can go with an idea. If you look at fixing a problem you may not be able to answer it one day or the next, but the more investigation you put in the more ideas you can come up with.
"There are different ways that science can be taught, but festivals such as these are a great way of giving the public the chance to get up close and have an interactive experience."
The festival was officially opened on Monday night at the Mackays Hotel in Wick when James Soper gave an amusing presentation on the five senses.
Winners of the primary school science design competition were also invited to the opening to receive their awards after being challenged to come up with designs for aliens, spaceships and energy-saving devices.
Festival patron John Thurso MP said that the festival has done a phenomenal job of introducing science in an entertaining and informative way to young minds.
"Science is about three things for me, education, economics and excitement," he said.
"I know very little about the subject, but it absolutely fascinates me what you can find out. When I visit classrooms today the whole way that science is taught is wonderful and gets the imagination going.
"Even if young people don’t eventually end up in a scientific career, having a knowledge of these subjects can set you in good stead for the rest of your life.
"We have a strong scientific and innovation history in Caithness which we’ve been famous for in the past and must be noted for in the future to keep the country going."
