On Friday 7th February, all of Year 10 travelled over to the Apollo Victoria Theatre for GCSE Science Live, a series of lectures from scientists at the forefront of their fields.
Professor Andrea Sella, a synthetic chemist at UCL was first up, with a very engaging talk that reviewed ideas about particle theory from the IGCSE course. Focusing on the unusual properties of water, he pointed out that the very ordinary phenomenon of ice floating on water is actually unique in the molecular world.
Dr Helen Czerski, a physicist and oceanographer, followed with tales of her expeditions around the world and studies of bubbles caused by breaking waves. After some tips from a GCSE examiner, Professor Alice Roberts shared findings from her research as a biological anthropologist on the evolution of dogs.
After lunch, Professor Lord Robert Wilson, renowned for the many television series that he has written and presented, gave the most memorable lecture of the day on IVF and the human reproductive system, complete with jaw-dropping footage of the journey of the egg from the ovary to the uterus.
The day concluded with an excellent talk from the well-known physicist, Professor Jim Al-Khalili, exploring the possibility of time travel.
Overall, it was a very interesting day with opportunities to review principles covered and see their application in the real world, as well as probe beyond the GCSE specifications.
Mrs Brown (Head of Science)