Scientists of the Future Day

Scientists of the Future Day is back at the Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading on Wednesday 13 January, an all-day science workshop for year 11 and 12 students. The whole thing is built around letting them get a first-hand feel for what it's actually like to work as a scientist, rather than just reading about it in a textbook.

The day centres on laboratory activities that mirror real diagnostic and research techniques. There's forensics and DNA/gel electrophoresis, chemistry, and food and nutritional sciences, so you're not just stuck in one discipline. It's the kind of hands-on work that usually stays behind closed doors, and here it's the main event. Between the lab sessions, students get to talk to current University of Reading science students, which is a good chance to hear what the course is actually like from someone who's in the middle of it.

There's also time to explore the campus, so you get a sense of the place and the facilities beyond the lab. The organisers note that the day has been very popular over the last four years, and they advise students to register early if they're interested. It runs from 09:00 to 16:15 on the Whiteknights Campus, so it's a full day's commitment. If you know a year 11 or 12 student who's thinking about science, this is a solid way for them to see if it's for them before they commit to a degree.