Exploding custard covers South Africa
Stephen Ashworth shares highlights from his recent sabbatical tour of presenting science shows and workshops in South African schools
At about 5pm on 15 April this year I was met by my family at Norwich International Airport, and returned to the life I had forsaken for over three months. That time I had spent in South Africa travelling the country giving science shows and workshops at schools, science centres and the National Science Festival. In one hundred days I travelled over 11,000 km by road, 3,000 km by air, and led around 120 different events with audiences numbering about 10,000.
Custard and spectroscopes
The events included the 'Kitchen Chemistry' science show (hence the exploding custard!) and other science shows on lasers and on sound. I also held educator workshops to empower the teachers and science centre staff to deliver the material and adapt it as necessary. In addition I led the 'Build your own spectroscope' workshop where we built a box with two holes and a slit then turned it into a spectroscope with a DVD. The spectroscope workshop was usually in conjunction with the spectrometer in a suitcase that I also had along for the trip. At Scifest Africa I also led a 'Make your own slime' workshop.
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