About this day
Welcome to GCSE Science in Action!
Join us for a high-energy, inspiring day of science designed especially for KS4 students. Across five sessions, students will explore key concepts from biology, chemistry and physics, brought vividly to life by expert speakers from academia and industry. From mind-blowing demonstrations to real-world science in action, this is a chance for students to see where a future in science can take them.
A special session on exam success will help students build the skills and confidence they need to thrive in their science exams. With audience participation, live demonstrations and the chance to put their questions directly to the scientists, GCSE Science in Action is the perfect way to spark curiosity in your class. Book now to secure your places!
Host: Lucy Eckersley (Science presenter) Exam Session: Leah McClure (A-level Biology Teacher)
“A good range of talks and topics that took our students beyond the curriculum, thoroughly engaging them and hopefully inspiring scientists of the future!”
— Cox Green School —
Programme & speakers
The Chemistry Spectacular James Copeland-Jordan, Head of STEM, Cheltenham College
The Chemistry Spectacular offers a rare chance to witness experiments you have never seen before and will never see again. Whether you are a lifelong lover of science or simply curious to explore the world from a new perspective, this extraordinary event promises an unforgettable experience. From explosions to detonations to deflagrations, we will reveal the chemistry behind chemical reactions in ways you have never encountered before.
About Dr James Copeland-Jordan
James is Head of STEM at Cheltenham College and a Trustee of the Cheltenham Education Partnership. He believes the STEM battleground lies at the heart of modern life and is central to addressing some of humanity’s greatest challenges: meeting growing energy demands; developing new medicines for an ageing population; tackling potable water scarcity; and ultimately sustaining a global food supply.
Adventures in a sphere Caroline Shenton-Taylor, Applied Nuclear Physicist, University of Surrey
From floating high above the Earth’s surface, to reaching the ocean floor, Auguste Piccard was a scientist who thrived on innovation and adventure. He engineered specially designed spheres, allowing him to venture into extreme environments. These journeys were risky and exciting, but his expeditions provided new scientific perspectives. In this talk, discover Piccard’s story and Caroline’s own adventure in building a space balloon.
About Dr Caroline Shenton-Taylor
Caroline is an applied nuclear physicist, sitting at the interface between industry and academia. Her team specialise in neural networks, artificial intelligence and novel methods, addressing challenges in nuclear security, nuclear decommissioning and medicine. Winner of UK Famelab 2014, she regularly speaks at festivals, on radio and YouTube (Dr CST).
Wildlife Chain Reactions Lucy Eckersley, Royal Society of Biology, Wildlife Presenter & Photographer
The natural world is in a careful balance, but climate change is about to disrupt all that. Follow food webs and trophic cascades to see what happens if remove (or add!) animals to ecosystems, and what conservation in the real world looks like.
About Lucy Eckersley
Lucy is a freelance science communicator, presenter and wildlife photographer. Her scientific background is in wild animal biology where she studied wild cats in a collaboration between the Royal Veterinary College and London Zoo.
The human guinea pig: Inside the NHS… and Tom! Tom Warrender, Medical Mavericks
Meet Tom the human guinea pig who has visited dozens of health professionals to discover the amazing careers you can get into with 5 GCSEs at levels 9-4! Oh… and he’ll perform some medical demos live on stage!
About Tom Warrender
Tom Warrender is famous for putting himself through real full-blown medical procedures in hospitals & schools to inspire the next generation of health professionals.
How to Freeze a Human Alex Baker, University of Warwick
In every cell in every tissue and every organ of your body, millions and millions of reactions are being carried out to keep you alive. The key ingredient in all these reactions is heat, so what happens if we drop the temperature? Could we cryogenically preserve organs and blood? Alex will explore the science and cutting-edge research behind cryogenics and consider how to freeze a human.
About Dr Alex Baker
Alex is an organic chemist with a particular interest in carbohydrates, polymers and nanoparticles. His work is used to design medical diagnostics with a particular focus on the developing world and fighting health inequalities.