Inspiring young scientists

Primary children on Merseyside had their first experiences as young scientists, thanks to lecturer Dr Elsie Gaskell.

Elsie, a senior lecturer in the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, has  years of experience teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students, but found herself facing a new audience: the eager and curious faces of Year 5 and 6 pupils.

“I didn’t quite know what to expect,” Dr Gaskell admits. “I have a real passion for teaching science, but at any level of education we are often constrained by curriculum requirements and assessment pressures.

“The Science Club, aimed at Key Stage 2 pupils, offered a wonderful opportunity to showcase some of the ‘cool’ science that children of this age may not usually encounter, and to spark a genuine love for the subject.”

Dr Gaskell designed and delivered a short Science Club programme focused on bringing hands-on science into the primary school setting. Through the programme, pupils aged 9-11 had the chance to use real scientific equipment, generate their own results, and draw conclusions from their observations – just like real scientists.

“I was blown away by the pupils’ eagerness to learn and their excitement at being able to use the equipment and produce their own results,” she says. “They saw the magic in science that first brought me into the laboratory many years ago, and it was a joy to watch their confidence and knowledge grow.”

The primary school Dr Gaskell worked with during the first term of the academic year was extremely supportive of this enrichment-style club. Looking ahead, she hopes to visit more primary schools to deliver all or part of the programme, inspiring even more budding scientists along the way.

Elsie taught the youngsters at Birkenhead High School Academy, and was supported by LJMU Outreach Team.