Media

Oxford science exhibits to wow crowds

24 June 2010

Two teams of scientists from Oxford University are introducing visitors to this year’s Royal Society’s Summer Science Exhibition to the wonders of viruses and tectonic plates.
 
The teams have created two family-friendly interactive exhibits using films, games, hands-on laboratories and even a ‘3D video simulation’ of a volcanic rift to interest visitors in the ideas behind their Oxford research.
 
The exhibits will join 25 others on show to the public at The Royal Society’s Summer Science Exhibition, being held at London’s Royal Festival Hall from 25 June-4 July 2010. 10,000 visitors are expected to attend.
 
‘We’re hoping that many families and schools from around Oxfordshire will come and see us, to have fun and be inspired to learn more about science,’ said Professor Angela McLean of Oxford’s Department of Zoology, who leads the exhibit on viruses. ‘It promises to be a fantastic, free family day out. We also hope to raise awareness of all the great scientific work that goes on here in Oxford.’
 
Professor McLean said: ‘Our exhibit, ‘Emerging Infections – viruses that come in from the wild’, is based around the story of how viruses in wild animals can infect humans through contact with animals, pass from human-to-human and then evolve to escape our attempts to control them. Told through films, games, and even a mock-up wet laboratory for DNA extraction, the exhibit is a hands-on do-it-yourself experience aimed at children.’
 
The other Oxford exhibit, ‘Fast and Furious – Witnessing the Birth of Africa’s new Ocean’, will give visitors an insight into studies of Ethiopia’s Afar rift where volcanic activity is causing the earth to literally tear itself apart.
 
‘People think that geology happens slowly, but the Afar rift is one of the few place on Earth where we can actually see geological change happening quickly as the tectonic plates, enormous sections of the earth’s crust, move apart,’ said Professor David Pyle of Oxford’s Department of Earth Sciences, who is leading the Afar exhibit. ‘Since 2005, when we started working there, the rift valley in northern Ethiopia has opened up by eight metres, and has had four volcanic eruptions.’
 
Professor Pyle said: ‘We’ve got a strong team of young scientists from Oxford who will be helping to explain how volcanic activity can create new oceans and continents, and what it’s like to get involved in a scientific expedition to one of the most hostile environments on the planet. Our exhibit will take you on a 3D video simulation of a flight through the rift, allow you to see how rift valleys form and earthquakes are measured, touch some of the youngest rocks on earth, and to probe the microscopic features of frozen lava.’
 
It is fitting that the two Oxford exhibits will be part of celebrations for the Royal Society’s 350th anniversary as a group of 17th Century scientists based at Oxford University – including Christopher Wren, Robert Hooke, and John Wilkins – played a key role in the founding of the Royal Society in 1660. See: http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/science_blog/100202.html
 
For more about the exhibits or to interview members of the teams contact the University of Oxford Press Office on 01865 283877 or by email at press.office@admin.ox.ac.uk

Notes to Editors

  • The exhibits ‘Emerging Infections – viruses that come in from the wild’ and ‘Fast and Furious – Witnessing the Birth of Africa’s new Ocean’ will be two of 27 exhibits on show at The Royal Society’s Summer Science Exhibition, held at London’s Royal Festival Hall, Southbank, from 25 June-4 July 2010. Entry is free and the exhibition is open 6pm-8:30pm on 25 June, and then 10am-8:30pm every day until 4 July.
  • An Oxford University team are also heavily involved in a third exhibit, ‘Designing a Giant Eye on the Sky’ which uses two innovative videos to showcase plans to build the largest optical telescope in the world – the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT). The giant telescope, which is at an advanced design stage, would have a main mirror 42 metres in diameter and could revolutionise our understanding of the Universe and its origins. The Oxford team is led by Professor Isobel Hook of the Department of Physics.