SchoolsLab

SchoolsLab at the University of Liverpool opened during Science Week 2007. The lab is a former research lab that has been renovated to accommodate groups of up to 20 students and is dedicated exclusively to use by schools and 6th form colleges throughout the academic year.
 
During 2007/2008, SchoolsLab has hosted 2-3 visits per week. Practical sessions are delivered for Years 5-13 with an additional University campus tour to give visiting students a broader taste of University life. Funding from The Ogden Trust has enabled the employment of a full time member of staff, part of whose role is to deliver practical sessions in SchoolsLab. The current Ogden Science Officer is Teresa Wong.
 
The aims of the SchoolsLab are to show young people the excitement of science as well as to raise attainment in science by supporting the school and college curriculum. It also makes efforts to extend the students’ experience with challenging experiments and concepts beyond the curriculum, and encourages young people to consider a career in science.
 
During the 2007-08 academic year, the most popular workshops have been ‘Fantastic Plastics’ and ‘Welcome to Nanoworld’. ‘Fantastic Plastics’ delivers an introduction to polymer chemistry and is aimed at Year 7/8 pupils. ‘Welcome to Nanoworld’ gives an introduction to nanotechnology and is aimed at Year 12 students.
 
Contact details: Dr Helen Aspinall, hca@liverpool.ac.uk