The annual Family Science Day in Dorchester on Sunday, 17th March 2024, was a vibrant celebration of the British National Science Week. This free event aims at making science accessible and engaging for families, providing a platform for learning and discovery in a fun and interactive way. With an attendance of 800 enthusiastic visitors, the event showcased 20 hands-on science stalls. BU was represented by staff, undergraduate and postgraduate students, and postdoctoral researchers. Contributors included Demetra Andreou (Fish Through Time), Amanda Korstjens (Voices in the Jungle), and Genoveva Esteban (Hidden World of Microbes), alongside Kirthana Pillay (postdoctoral researcher) and undergraduate students Dan Stevens and Jacob Tate from the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences. Xun He (Head of MINE Research Cluster, Psychology) and Fred Charles (Head of Department for Creative Technology) led a stall on Measuring Social Behaviour with VR & Brainwaves, with assistance from PhD student Damla Kuleli, research assistant Charlie Lloyd-Buckingham, and BU alumnus Rianna Green. BU Student Ambassador Lily Bater provided exceptional support throughout the day.
Prof Genoveva Esteban annually organises this event in collaboration with Dorchester Town Council, Dorset County Museum, and the Institute of Physics. The success of this event was made possible through sponsorship from the Royal Society of Biology, Dorchester Town Council, the Institute of Physics, and Pilot Regional Funding from Research England. Special thanks are extended to Dr Blanca Pérez-Uz from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain, for her valuable contribution to the “Hidden World of Microbes” activity. The assistance and support provided by BU’s Marketing & Communications (Hollye McKenzie and Sabine Turner), along with Events and Communications (Beverly Allen), are also gratefully acknowledged.