5th Form Trip to GCSE Science Live! at Bath Forum

On Tuesday, the 5^th Form Scientists attended a GCSE Science Live! lecture day at Bath Forum.

The day began with Professor Lord Robert Winston introducing pupils to his pioneering work on the development of precision surgery on fallopian tubes, a technique know as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis and, more recently, transgenetic technology alongside helping develop methods to make IVF treatment more accessible.

Dr Simon Singh explained the Big Bang model of the universe, how this theory came about and how the gathered evidence from various research projects ultimately proved that the Big Bang theory is correct.

The next talk was given by Dr Helen Czerski about her challenging research into the optics and acoustics of ocean bubbles, the structure of the bubble plumes caused by breaking waves and the influence of ocean bubbles on the atmosphere.

Professor Alice Roberts showed pupils how the domestication of plants and animals by our ancestors was vital to the beginning of civilisation.

After lunch GCSE Chief Examiner Stuart Chenery gave pupils top tips on how to succeed in their Science examinations. He covered what and how Science is tested at GCSE level, the types of questions used with examples, revision and examination techniques.

During the final lecture of the day Professor Dave Cliff enthusiastically described the immense advances Computer Science has made over the last fifty years, the truly astonishing progress that promises to be made in addition to the challenges that are still to come.

Dr Sadie Osborne - Head of Chemistry