Catalyst is taking part in Halton's people into jobs programme which means we offer work placements to local people but they get paid by the council. So we have two new guys working with us for 6 months. Nathan is helping out Paul on the technical and handyman side and Alex is working with us in education. Alex is thinking about training to be a teacher - well he will certainly know whether he wants to teach or not by the time he has finished with us.
Yesterday was a baptism of fire - we had 250 year 7s from Cardinal Heenan school in Liverpool. I did three flash gang whoosh shows - huge fun! The boys were super and really enjoyed their day - they were very enthusiastic about the shows!
I think Alex and Nathan were a little overawed at so many kids all in one place but we had a good day and both of them came back today for more!
Today Alex put on a lab coat and certainly began to enjoy being a scientist - I hope he continues to enjoy this!
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
reviewing NSEW
Last week was very busy. National Science and Engineering week which lasts over 10 days here at Catalyst because we get so busy!
We started with Flash Bang Whoosh shows for secondary schools with a guest presenter thrown in on the Friday from King's school Macclesfield - thanks to the guys who came over - all three are as mad as they come but passionate about science and they certainly do a mean show!
Saturday was the world première for Alicia Cutler studying chemistry at Manchester Met. She presented her first ever science show - the magic of the movies. Saturday science club were the lab rats and I think they had a good time!Well done Alicia - I loved the sugar glass!!
The Ed team did another Flash Bang show for the public in the afternoon and lots of the morning gang stayed so a good time was had by all.
Monday was more secondary shows and then we changed gear for the primary shows - lots of liquid nitrogen and dry ice, burning iron filings and generally causing lots of oohs and aahs. Great fun and some really big audiences on some of the days. I think Wednesday and Friday broke the record for how many kids can you squash into a science show!!
So three very tired but happy science presenters finished the week with not quite a bang but certainly a whoosh!
We started with Flash Bang Whoosh shows for secondary schools with a guest presenter thrown in on the Friday from King's school Macclesfield - thanks to the guys who came over - all three are as mad as they come but passionate about science and they certainly do a mean show!
Saturday was the world première for Alicia Cutler studying chemistry at Manchester Met. She presented her first ever science show - the magic of the movies. Saturday science club were the lab rats and I think they had a good time!Well done Alicia - I loved the sugar glass!!
The Ed team did another Flash Bang show for the public in the afternoon and lots of the morning gang stayed so a good time was had by all.
Monday was more secondary shows and then we changed gear for the primary shows - lots of liquid nitrogen and dry ice, burning iron filings and generally causing lots of oohs and aahs. Great fun and some really big audiences on some of the days. I think Wednesday and Friday broke the record for how many kids can you squash into a science show!!
So three very tired but happy science presenters finished the week with not quite a bang but certainly a whoosh!
Saturday, 12 March 2011
Students visit
We had a group of student teachers visit us from Liverpool John Moores University. All the Education team were involved in leading sessions with them. Soap, fantastic plastic and a hands on in your classroom session.
I shared snippets from the RSC DVD we have been involved in making and we had a go at some experiments suitable and easy to do in primary classroom
Hopefully as they go out into schools on placement this week we will have inspired some of the students to have a go!
I shared snippets from the RSC DVD we have been involved in making and we had a go at some experiments suitable and easy to do in primary classroom
Hopefully as they go out into schools on placement this week we will have inspired some of the students to have a go!
Thursday, 24 February 2011
Are you really a scientist?
Why do people ask in surprise "Are you really a scientist?" when I have just delivered a show or workshop about some scientific topic.
Sometimes I feel like answering No I am an actor just pretending....!
Sometimes I feel like answering No I am an actor just pretending....!
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Curing the Plague??
This is a strange time here at Catalyst.
It is half term school holidays in some education authorities but others are not off school until next week.
We made the decision to put on holiday events over both weeks which means we are having fewer people in but it will stretch over both weeks and hopefully we will get the same number as usual in the end.
But the workshops have smaller audiences - not a bad thing really as we are usually so packed it is a stretch on resources BUT running a show for 2 families is rather too intense!
Especially as the shows is supposed to be interactive with lots of volunteers coming out to have ago. The short show is all about medicines from the old days - old wives tales etc the "show" bit lasts about 15 minutes then the audience get to have a go at hands on stuff themselves - making a nosegay posy to keep off the plague; testing fruit juice for Vit C, curing stings with old wives tales and so on....
One good thing about doing two weeks is that I don't have to worry this weekend about setting up - it is all ready and I can relax!
It is half term school holidays in some education authorities but others are not off school until next week.
We made the decision to put on holiday events over both weeks which means we are having fewer people in but it will stretch over both weeks and hopefully we will get the same number as usual in the end.
But the workshops have smaller audiences - not a bad thing really as we are usually so packed it is a stretch on resources BUT running a show for 2 families is rather too intense!
Especially as the shows is supposed to be interactive with lots of volunteers coming out to have ago. The short show is all about medicines from the old days - old wives tales etc the "show" bit lasts about 15 minutes then the audience get to have a go at hands on stuff themselves - making a nosegay posy to keep off the plague; testing fruit juice for Vit C, curing stings with old wives tales and so on....
One good thing about doing two weeks is that I don't have to worry this weekend about setting up - it is all ready and I can relax!
Monday, 7 February 2011
Madness and mayhem
Last week was amazing! We had a guest speaker here at Catalyst - Dr Bunhead AKA Tom Pringle from the TV show Brainiac
Naturally anything to do with the TV brings out the crowds and we were heaving! Tom has been coming here for a number of years with his exploding energy show for KS3.
Most days we had 200+ teenagers who were extremely excited. Also most days the Education team were busy teaching lots of workshops and stuff because the schools didn't just come to see the show they wanted to do extra stuff too.
So by Friday we were all a bit dazed and extremely tired but great financially for Catalyst - as ever it is hand to mouth!
It looks like most of the funding we do get will disappear so we will be left to fend for ourselves.
However bookings are good and we expect a great National Science and Engineering week.
This week is quieter but we are getting ready for half term. We sit astride two different areas as far as school holidays are concerned. Although we are in Halton which tends to follow Liverpool holidays, most of our visitors and from Cheshire, Manchester and Wales who are not following Liverpool holidays. So for Feb half term we are doing 2 weeks - this is a bit of a gamble so we will see what happens.
Naturally anything to do with the TV brings out the crowds and we were heaving! Tom has been coming here for a number of years with his exploding energy show for KS3.
Most days we had 200+ teenagers who were extremely excited. Also most days the Education team were busy teaching lots of workshops and stuff because the schools didn't just come to see the show they wanted to do extra stuff too.
So by Friday we were all a bit dazed and extremely tired but great financially for Catalyst - as ever it is hand to mouth!
It looks like most of the funding we do get will disappear so we will be left to fend for ourselves.
However bookings are good and we expect a great National Science and Engineering week.
This week is quieter but we are getting ready for half term. We sit astride two different areas as far as school holidays are concerned. Although we are in Halton which tends to follow Liverpool holidays, most of our visitors and from Cheshire, Manchester and Wales who are not following Liverpool holidays. So for Feb half term we are doing 2 weeks - this is a bit of a gamble so we will see what happens.
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