the-BA : BA CREST Science Fair

Projects as varied as studying students’ attitudes to vaccination, developing a hepatitis B genotyping tool and designing a bridal gown for actress Liv Tyler were amongst those awarded prizes at the prestigious national BA CREST Science Fair. The fair, held at the Royal Society, London, on 28 February, showcases science and technology projects from students aged 11-18 across the UK and was described by host Vivienne Parry as the “science Oscars”.

“We hear much about the declining numbers of students opting for science at A-level and university, but very little about the achievements of young people,” says Professor Robert Winston, President of the BA. “Every year at the science fair we see many outstanding and innovative projects and we want to celebrate this work. By recognising the creativity and innovation behind these projects, we can encourage young people to pursue a career in science.”

At the fair, budding scientists presented their projects to a panel of judges including scientists, educators and science journalists, and could win trips to prestigious international science fairs.

“I was very surprised to win the Young Scientist prize as it was really a team effort I’m very pleased, though,” said Lorna Neill from Clifton High School, Bristol, who won the AstraZeneca Young Scientist of the Year Bronze and whose team came runners-up for Best CREST Bronze Project. “Hopefully it will help me get into medical school when I am older.”

Lorna and her team had done a project looking at the corrosive effects of de-icers on the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

“My friends all cross the bridge to get to school,” explained Lorna. “As we’d been studying corrosion in our science class, we thought it would be good to look at corrosion on the bridge. We had some very interesting experiences by doing this project including going to our local university, the University of West England, to use some of their equipment.”

One unusual project which proved a big hit with judges and attendees of the science fair alike was Paul Aspinall’s bridal gown.

“I’ve always been interested in fashion and how styles from one year to the next,” said Paul from Severn Vale School, also in Bristol, who won the AstraZeneca Young Technologist of the Year Silver Prize. “I did work experience at a local bridal shop and this inspired me to do a project designing a bridal gown. I imagined that Liv Tyler had asked me to design her dress and set about researching the type of dress she would choose, fashions past and present and how wedding dresses are made.”

The full list of pizewinners can be read here.

The BA would like to thank AstraZeneca, the Research Councils and QinetiQ for their sponsorship of the event and the Royal Society for its support.

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