Big Biology day is designed to engage
the public with the life sciences by showcasing activities from various biology
related sectors and this year’s fair in Essex set out to do just that. With
representation from various sectors and organisations such as the Essex
Wildlife Trust, British Naturalist Association, Science Grrl, the Cambridge Big
Biology Day team, the Royal Society of Biology, Queen Mary University,
University College London, Science:Gamed and Oxford University, attendees were
occupied through the day with various educational hands on activities suited
for all the family.
Some exhibitors all set up ready for the fair.
Some exhibitors all set up ready for the fair.
The lovely sunny day allowed for the beautiful landscape of the museum including the river running through the site, the mill pond, scrubland, woodland and habitat areas as well as the wide variety of plants and animals to be appreciated through outdoor activities such as ‘bugs hunt’, canoeing demo and a nature trail.
Sample outdoor activities
Indoor activities included, a computer
science game based on medical diagnosis, Species identification, the future of
personalised medicine based on cancer, the role of pH in relation to Alzheimer’s
disease, and a board game and craft session based on skin anatomy. The museum was also opened for the day where ‘friends
of the museum’ were available to give a tour of the Marconi displays.
Overall, the Big Biology Day fair
was a success and we look forward to adapting the feedback received for an even
more diverse and exciting fair next year.
This year’s Biology week will be
taking place from 10th October – 18th October. Visit the
Royal Society of Biology website for an event
near you.
Special thanks to all our supporters, exhibitors
and volunteers without whom the fair would not be the same.
