College hopes campaign creates a eureka moment that will inspire young scientists of the future
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A scientist visited four primary schools in Suffolk to share her passion and inspire youngsters to try and become the next Marie Curie or Albert Einstein.
Victoria Fiebelkorn is Group Head of the Skills Escalator for the Eastern Education Group and she journeyed to Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill, Mildenhall and Sudbury as part of British Science Week.
The campaign (British Science Week) is a ten day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
During her mini tour of the county, Victoria met with over 200 children, safely extracting DNA, talking about her own lifelong career in science and highlighting women who have made an impact in STEM industries through the ages. Victoria said: “I wanted to run a practical and hands on activity that the children would not usually encounter and genetic medicine is a particular interest of mine – so getting them to extract and isolate their own DNA to take home and show their friends and families seemed a logical choice. Genetic medicine is at the cutting edge of science it has, and I believe will continue to change our lives for the better.”
In terms of the mission of the campaign Victoria said: “I hope this has made the children think science is cool and meeting an everyday scientist will enable them to say – I can be like her.”
Hannah Levene is a teacher at The Pines in Mildenhall. Hannah said: "My year five children absolutely loved the session with Victoria. The class haven't been able to stop talking about it.”
Summer, 10, is a student at Howard Community Academy. Summer said: “I learnt how to make DNA and I really enjoyed the lesson. I like science because it is fascinating.”
Ben, 11 said: “I learnt that DNA is pretty much everywhere. I enjoyed making a mini me. I want to become a physicist or mathematician in the future.”
David, 11, said: “The lesson was good, interesting and fun. I like science as you get to experiment. I want to be a doctor in the future as I want to help people.”
Ade Copsey is a teacher at Howard Community Academy said: “The children were very engaged and I found the session very interesting. Hopefully a few of this class will go on and become scientists in the future.”
