Senior Professional Practice Fellow at Leeds Trinity University, Dr Leigh Hoath, has worked alongside a global chemical company to open a new science facility for schoolchildren.
Dr Hoath, Science Lead at Leeds Trinity University, and BASF UK launched ScienceXperience at the company’s Cinderford site earlier this month.
The ScienceXperience is an interactive science resource for young pupils from the local community, which provides them with the chance to take part in experiments linked to the national curriculum. The facility is designed to inspire students and support teachers to maximise their education.
Over 30 pupils were invited to the opening for a site tour and to take part in science experiments linked with BASF’s work taking place on-site.
Dr Leigh Hoath, Senior Professional Practice Fellow and Science Lead at Leeds Trinity University, said: "I was really pleased to work collaboratively with BASF to develop this site’s ScienceXperience and establish a new facility to encourage learning and exploration in science. From a teaching perspective, it’s important that the experiments are linked to the national curriculum and are supported with activities designed to explore scientific investigation skills and methods, and I was delighted to help shape this.
"The ScienceXperience supports teachers and students with ideas to ensure that the learning is just as memorable as the visit. I hope this inspires young people to be excited about science and think about exploring it further in the future."
Chris Turner, Site Manager at BASF Metals Recycling Ltd, said: "We were excited to invite 30 pupils from Parkend Primary School, provide a site tour and support a series of scientific experiments that demonstrate some of the work we do here at our plant and other sites around the UK.
"It was great to meet teachers, teaching assistants and students from one of our neighbouring schools and to see how enthusiastic the children were during the visit.
"The team here at Cinderford is passionate about inspiring young people into science and I hope by offering this as a resource to local schools we will be able to encourage the next generation of scientists."
Dr Hoath has worked with BASF for the last four years, developing their outreach provision in local primary schools.
This work comes in advance of the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, where Dr Hoath will join BASF’s sustainability director and colleagues from Strathclyde University in visiting primary schools to discuss careers in science and the ways in which children can address climate change and sustainability issues.
Photo credit: Jane Gow Photography