British Science Week is a nationwide celebration of STEM and marks a brilliant opportunity for outreach. On 9 and 10 March, Manchester Museum became a hub of fascinating research. Over 100 researchers from diverse disciplines set up stalls to bring the science out of the lab and inspire a new generation of scientists.

Over 20 Lydia Becker researchers did their part in disseminating some fantastic science. At the Becker stall, our famous Splat the Virus and Neutralise the Virus games made an appearance. Students had a great time getting some energy out, batting and throwing our virus plushies. Our volunteers made great use of these games to lead the way into some fun discussions around the immune system and how it fights off viral infections.

Team Mucus brought parasites and literal buckets of slime to demonstrate the essential research on parasitic infections and bodily defences. Volunteers turned squeals of disgust into curiosity and thoughtful conversations on a global health issue.

Across the two days, over 1,000 school students made their way through the stalls, getting an opportunity to connect with researchers and get hands-on with brilliant activities. Our researchers recognise this incredible opportunity to inspire growing minds and have a lot of fun along the way:

Volunteering at the BSW Becker stand was a blast, as it is every year! It was wonderful to see young students learning about infections, the immune system, and vaccines through games like Splat the Virus, Spin the Wheel, and Neutralise the Virus. I was especially proud when most of the students could answer my little quiz at the end of the games, and some future scientists even asked excellent questions. I also felt a real sense of personal growth throughout the experience – it was incredibly rewarding.

 

Mang Xu, PhD student

I had a fantastic time volunteering at the Lydia Becker stand during BSW alongside the other volunteers. As always, Splat the Virus was a huge hit, along with the revamped Spin the Wheel and Neutralise the Virus. It was great chatting with the students about the different types of immune cells and how they protect the body, and I loved having the chance to make complex science a bit more accessible (and hopefully spark a few future immunologists along the way).

 

Holly Sedgwick, PhD student

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