Making science child’s play

How do you get kids excited about the various different careers available in science? It’s down to scientists to ‘sell’ a scientific career to the next generation says Georgina Lavender. And what better place to do it than at the Schools Science Conference 2009

ON THURSDAY 12th March, Kensington Town Hall in London opened its doors to 450 schoolchildren, their teachers and teams of scientists. Once again, the West London Schools Science Conference was underway.

The concept began in 2004 when Dr Don Henderson - consultant immunologist at what is now the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust - was given a sum of money from the Workforce Development Confederation (an NHS body no longer with us) with a brief to provide the future workforce, “not just nurses and doctors!”, for a changing NHS. Don called a meeting of his friends and colleagues and asked for ideas. By the end of the afternoon, there was an embryonic plan, and the Schools Science Conference, to showcase the work of healthcare professionals, was born.

Since 2004, the Conference has gone from strength to strength. Volunteer scientists and healthcare professionals from all over London give their time and effort to inspire the young people of the surrounding area to consider a career in science. They explain that science isn’t about being really clever, or a geek or a nerd, but that science is actually exciting and incredibly good fun. Not only that, there is a salary at the end, that you can be employed in science without first having to have a degree, and that there is a skill shortage, so employment prospects are better than other areas of life. Importantly, in the current economic climate, the public sector is relatively recession proof. Past events have persuaded over two and a half thousand children, aged between 15 and 19 years old to look differently at a career in science. The event has changed its focus too, whereas it began to promote working in the NHS, it has expanded and become part of National Science and Engineering Week and includes the research, teaching and commercial aspects of a life in science, with the message that science is in everything.

Over the six years, the conference organisers have tried various ideas for their action packed day, full of inspirational speakers and hands-on activities. Successes are built upon, and a single new activity that goes down a storm often becomes the whole focus of the next, evolving event. The day is made up of a combination of keynote speakers, demonstrations, and something akin to a trade show, where working scientists are effectively “selling” their own chosen careers. There are many opportunities for participation, and there are competitions running for school groups, individuals, and the teachers. Older children are encouraged into debating areas, usually hot topics among the professionals, where the views of an 18-year-old can be very perceptive.

This year’s conference opened with a plenary session, a short talk from the inspirational Dr Kevin Fong. Kevin told of his own background. He grew up in London, just like the audience. He was told he would never be good enough to study medicine. Instead, he chose astrophysics and with his first degree firmly under his belt, embarked on the second – in medicine. Kevin now works in a London hospital, but with qualifications in medicine and astrophysics he is in demand for secondments elsewhere. Kevin talked about Blue Sky Science, pushing the boundaries to make revolutionary discoveries and he asked his audience to consider the huge scientific advances of today and to stop and think about the science that went before. Everyone had heard of the structure of DNA, the double helix, but who had heard of x-ray crystallography? Everyone knew about the AIDS virus, but who had stopped to think how the fantastic electron micrographs of the virus invading the T cells were possible? Kevin urged his audience to ask questions, go forward and make discoveries. After all, anything is possible for a kid from West London. After his talk, Kevin stayed around a while, talking further to small groups of students. I caught up with him and asked why he had given up his time to communicate with kids. He said: “In science, anything is possible. Science is a leveller, and you can do it – regardless of your background, because science doesn’t speak with an accent. Science isn’t about immediate gratification, successes are long-term”.

The professional bodies were represented in a debating area. “To screen or not to screen” was discussed in small groups, led by members of the Royal College of Pathologists, The Association of Clinical Biochemists and the Institute of Biomedical Science. Screening programs feature in the current A level biology syllabus, so this was an opportunity for the students to question the experts, and in return, the experts were able to hear the frequently enlightening views of young people.

No event featuring healthcare science would be complete without the doctors, and they literally represented the changing faces of the NHS. In the morning, Dr Sandeep Cliff, a consultant dermatologist, discussed his work with an array of case studies and attention capturing photos. He had a serious message too. Look after your skin, so no sun, no fags, no alcohol and no drugs! He was followed by Mr Niall Kirkpatrick, a consultant plastic surgeon specialising in maxillo-facial surgery. Niall proved, with a slide show of before-and-after images of his patients, that he really could change faces. He demonstrated how science, medicine and artistic creativity really can change, not only their faces, but also their lives. He introduced the work of Sarah Jones, an amazing prosthetist and she in turn described the variety of the work she undertakes and the career pathway for any budding prosthetists in the audience.

In the afternoon plenary session, Professor Chris Mason gave an inspirational presentation about the very topical and controversial subject of stem cell research. This topic is covered in GCSE science and A level biology syllabuses and Chris was able to present the theory, the benefits and the current state of research into the use of stem cells in regenerative medicine. Chris highlighted how discoveries in science and medicine may actually be very small in the grand scheme of things, but how these small discoveries are able to radically change many lives.

As you can see, the conference organisers work extremely hard to encourage and inspire the children of today to see the real benefits of a career in science, and they also keep the topics relevant to the science education syllabus of the day. Feedback from the students and teachers is excellent, and the event now attracts a waiting list for places. In 2006 funding for the conference was withdrawn, but Don and his gang would not be deterred. On a very steep learning curve, the organising group turned fundraisers and now raise the money needed to put on the event themselves through grants, donations and sponsorship. The main sponsors of the 2009 conference were Skills for Health and the Royal Society of Chemistry, and without their support the event could not have gone ahead.

Skills for Health are a body currently developing the educational requirements for the present and future healthcare workforce. I asked Sharon Ensor why her organisation was prepared to sponsor this event and why she saw a need for future events. She explained that science, and careers in science shouldn’t be seen as elitist and graduate entry only. She wanted to promote entry to science at three levels. A knowledge based route through the traditional A levels, an applied route, as advocated by the new Diploma in Society, Health and Development and also a work-based learning route as seen in traditional apprenticeships. Sharon wants children to have an informed choice and to be able to choose a study pathway most suited to them as an individual. “The Schools Science Conference is an opportunity not only to find out where you can go, but also to promote how you can get there.”

Jayne Shaw, from the Royal Society of Chemistry, is also responsible for a project aimed at school children called Chemistry: The Next Generation. The Royal Society echoes the views and aspirations of the organising group. Jayne said: “We are here supporting the event because we want to promote chemistry, and most health careers need chemistry. We must enthuse the students about chemistry and the chemical sciences.”

Planning has now begun for 2010 and Don and his team enter their seventh conference with much experience and success to draw upon. In 2008 they were proud to receive a healthcare science "Oscar", Healthcare Science Ambassadors of the Year from Professor Sue Hill, the chief scientific officer at the Department of Health. The children of London probably have never heard of the chief scientific officer, but they certainly know that there is more to healthcare science than nursing and medicine. They know of podiatry and dietetics, they can differentiate between x-rays and ultrasound, they have made their own lotions and potions with the pharmacists, they have visualised blood flowing through the heart and vessels, they have looked down a variety of microscopes and they may even have worn a “fat suit”. This is a conference with a difference, the volunteers have nothing to promote but their chosen professions, yet they do so with clarity and enthusiasm and another generation of school students are much richer for the experience.