Live science
We’ve scheduled some fascinating live events to take place during British Science Week 2021. We'll be adding more activities to these pages in the run up to Science Week, so keep checking back.
Otters in Sheffield and the Peak District
Friday 19 March, 7.30pm
Researchers at the University of Sheffield, in collaboration with volunteers, have been studying otters in the Peak District since 2017. The project investigates factors affecting otter distribution, territory sizes and diet.
The team includes members of the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Department of Archaeology, the Medical School and dedicated volunteers. The team successfully combined expertise in surveying for otters and filming using wildlife cameras, with laboratory based DNA analyses of faecal samples (spraint) to identify individuals and study diet using prey DNA and skeletal remains.
This presentation will include a summary of the Otter Team’s findings, previously unreleased footage of local otters and a question and answer session.
Hack Your Brain: Using Science to Improve our Quality of Life
Suitable for ages 16-19
Thursday 11 March, 4.45pm-5.45pm
Tickets are free but you’ll need to book
Is understanding our brain the key to humanity of the future? From advancing medical treatments, understanding how our environment affects our mental health, making choices about our food or practicing self-care, the key to a better quality of life could be harnessing our brain power. Join our panel discussion to hear about how Sheffield scientists are helping us to unlock the secrets of our brains and improve ourselves. Have your say too, bring your questions or share your ideas on how our lives and our health might be different in the future.
If you are doing science A levels right now this is a great opportunity to speak to some scientists, and find out more about their PhD research. It’s a great example of extra curricular activity you can use on your university application.
This talk might be of particular interest if you are currently studying psychology or are interested in a career in medicine or biomedical science. The talk is open to everyone though, so you don’t need a background in these subjects to join us.
Particle Physics Masterclass
Suitable for Y11+ students interested in physics
Wednesday 10 March, 9.30am-4pm
Tickets are free but you’ll need to book
This virtual experience day gives an opportunity for 15- to 19-year old students to discover particle physics and see what it’s like to study physics at the University. It offers the unique chance to take a glimpse into the life of a particle physicist. You’ll work with researchers and students from Sheffield University to explore data from the ATLAS experiment- one of the four major experiments at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, which is trying to answer big questions such as: What are the basic building blocks of matter? And what are the fundamental forces of nature?