Science week goes off with a bang

14 March 2011

Science week

Students from local primary schools enjoyed their investigations into rockets. 8H win Science Week quiz five days running. Read more about National Science and Engineering Week inside, including some of the weird and whacky solutions to global problems devised by creative Westminster City School science students.

The theme for National Science and Engineering week this year was communication. The week started off on Monday 14th with an assembly by Mr.Rowney explaining how information and communication technology has changed in the remarkably few years since he was at school. Many students were surprised by the size of the early mobile computer he brought in to show students and the amazing increase in processing speed and memory of computers from the 1Kb memory of the Sinclair ZX81 compared to the 32Gb memory of the Apple iPhone. Mr.Rowney’s second assembly theme explained how science is often misrepresented in the press and in adverts and how students should be cautious of the scientific ‘fact’ they see in the press and on TV.

Mr.Cook provided a daily quiz for students and staff and was busy marking entries late into the evening every day. Lots of forms won science week prizes for winning entries. Daily prizes went to 7K, 7P, 8D, 8H, 8P, 9P, 9D, 10P and 11K and several forms won on several occasions. A special mention has to be made of 8H who won every day, well done boys.

Mr.Willetts and Mr.Rowney also entertained three groups of Primary School Students from St.Peters, St.Mathews and St.Barnabus’s schools, with an investigation of home-made rockets, and a few whizz-bang demonstrations which the children all really enjoyed.

The main science week activities for boys was a poster competition where students were asked to invent a solution to a problem, whether personal or global and explain how their solution would revolutionise life. There were nearly 500 entries in all and, at the time this newsletter went to press, the winners for each year group and overall had not yet been decided. Some examples from the poster competition include: a device to prevent earthquakes by holding tectonic plates together, sunglasses that translate foreign languages and project the translation onto the inside of the lens, a device to be fitted onto ‘Boris-bikes’ to store electricity generated while they are ridden, a water-turbine powered TV, ultra-sound goggles so you can see though things, a velcro TV remote, water-proof clothing that imitates drip tip leaves, a bike seat warmer and an automatic toilet seat lifter/lowerer! Five Nintendo DSi machines with £25 game vouchers are up for grabs – winners will be announced soon.

See you again same time next year!

Mr.Rowney - Science Subject Leader
 

www.britishscienceassociation.org