the-BA : Nation's Favourite Experiment Results

For immediate release
Wednesday 21 March 2007

Sodium bicarbonate rockets have been voted "The Nation’s Favourite Experiment" in a nationwide poll carried out as part of National Science and Engineering Week. Rockets, explosions and slime went head-to-head with flash-frozen fruit and coke-and-mentos-toting cowboys. The BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) invited the public to view film clips of these and other popular, eye-catching experiments and vote for their favourite online.

The winner, entitled "Fizz Fizz Bang Bang" showed how to make a rocket using an effervescent stomach pill. Its success goes to show the ongoing appeal of rockets and simple experiments that you can perform for yourself.

Science and Innovation Minister Malcolm Wicks says: ‘I hope that the debate, discussion and discovery prompted by "The Nation’s Favourite Experiment" poll will continue. All the experiments that people have been voting for are a great reminder of how exciting and intriguing science can be at school level. It is critical that we enthuse the next generation so that we have enough skilled scientists and engineers to tackle the great challenges of the 21st century.’

Roland Jackson, Chief Executive of the BA, which coordinates National Science and Engineering Week, says: ‘To encourage students towards studying science and engineering it is important that experiments are centre stage in the teaching of science. The comments we’ve received whilst running this poll support the desire, among teachers, parents and students alike, for more demonstrations and practicals such as these in the classroom to ensure that the subjects are engaging as well as informative.’

Many of the children who voted wished they could see or do something similar in school because they were fun and exciting. But there was some concern expressed that access to practical science demonstrations was being limited by intimidating or laborious health and safety procedures: ‘Nowadays teachers seem frightened to conduct experiments in school, so kids miss out on practical experience - if they're lucky, they might see experiments on TV or interactive whiteboard, but not for real - because of fears for safety of teacher and children,’ commented one adult. ‘Science has unfortunately become worksheet based… bring back hands on science and let kids ask and answer their own questions,’ said another.

However, there was also evidence that there are a lot of enthusiastic teachers out there who are committed to bringing practical science into the classroom: ‘Love these experiments, and where we can we use them to pep up science at school! I never had rockets at school...but we do now,’ commented one. Another said, ‘As a year 6 science teacher I am always looking for ideas that will excite my students, but there should always be something to learn from an experiment.’

National Science and Engineering Week 2007 took place from 9-18 March. Following on from the success of last year, significantly more events were held throughout the UK. These included an expanded programme of engineering events. For more information about National Science and Engineering Week, including free activity packs, visit http://www.the-ba.net/nsew.

National Science and Engineering Week is coordinated by the BA in partnership with the Engineering and Technology Board (ETB), and funded by the Department of Trade and Industry.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Lisa Hendry, Press Officer, the BA
Tel: +44 (0)20 7019 4946
Email: lisa.hendry@the-ba.net

Note for editors

1. People could vote for their favourite experiments as part of the search for "The Nation’s Favourite Experiment" at http://www.the-ba.net/experiments. The BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) filmed popular, eye-catching experiments that you might see at school, science centres or on TV, performed by the Punk Scientists.

The complete list of experiments and the percentage votes they received is below. They featured common favourites such as the coke-and-mentos fountain, liquid nitrogen and rockets:

• Blow Me Down    4 %
• Can-tastic Electricity   5 %
• Chemists in the Mist   5 %
• Fizz Fight    5 %
• Fizz Fizz Bang Bang   28 %
• The Banana Hammer   18 %
• Slime Time    5 %
• It IS Rocket Science   9 %
• You’ve Got Gas    21 %

Further details about the individual experiments can be obtained from the BA Press Office, including photographs of "You’ve Got Gas" and "The Banana Hammer".

2. The BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) is the UK's nationwide, open membership organisation that exists to advance the public understanding, accessibility and accountability of the sciences and engineering. Established in 1831, the BA organises major initiatives across the UK, including National Science and Engineering Week, the annual BA Festival of Science, programmes of regional and local events, and an extensive programme for young people in schools and colleges. For more information about the BA, please visit www.the-ba.net.

3. The Engineering and Technology Board (ETB) is a registered charity that seeks to promote the vital contribution that scientists, engineers and technologists make to prosperity and quality of life. The ETB works in partnership with business and industry, Government, education and the profession to improve the perception of science, engineering and technology in the UK. The driving force behind these partnerships is the desire to ensure a supply of appropriately skilled individuals to meet the present and future SET skill needs of UK plc. For more information about the ETB please visit www.etechb.co.uk.

4. About National Science and Engineering Week

• National Science and Engineering Week is coordinated by the BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science).

• National Science and Engineering Week is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

• In 2007, the BA is working in partnership with the Engineering and Technology Board (ETB) to broaden the scale and scope of the programme and to celebrate the vital contribution that engineering makes to society.

• Energy and climate change will again be a key focus during the week in 2007, building on the success of the Click for the Climate campaign during last year’s National Science Week.

• During the week, events are organised throughout the UK by a large and varied range of organisations and individuals including hospitals, schools, industry and museums. Venues range from shopping centres to pubs and churches.

• National Science and Engineering Week is aimed at everyone from children and adults to decision-makers and investors and is intended to:

- engage and inspire people of all ages with science and technology and their implications,
- promote discussion and understanding of what science, engineering and technology can and cannot achieve,
- promote knowledge of the scientific method, i.e. how scientists go about their work and reach their conclusions,
- promote science, engineering and technology studies beyond the age of 16, and science, engineering and technology as career options.

• An essential feature of National Science and Engineering Week is the way it takes science to the public rather than waiting for the public to find science. The week has drawn many scientists into the public domain to discuss their work with interested audiences.

• 2006 Vital Statistics:

- over 2,000 events; from hands-on activities to discussions, tours and online activities
- over 660,000 participants at events
- high level of public awareness

• A searchable database of events during National Science and Engineering Week is available at www.the-ba.net/nsewprogramme.

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