University brings secrets of the ocean to life for kids

‘Ocean Quest,’ held at the Octagon auditorium, took youngsters on a fascinating journey to meet the weird and wonderful creatures which inhabit the ocean. The event, which forms part of the university’s commitment to bring its world-class research to life to inspire the next generation of scholars, saw the Octagon stage transformed into the seashore with a rock pool filled with anemones, starfish, and hermit crabs to investigate as part of the interactive science lesson.

The budding scientists learnt why sharks are top predators, met jellyfish to see how they avoid being eaten and discovered that corals are part animal part plant. Children measured out the length of a blue whale and found out how whale songs can travel thousands of miles in the ocean.

Presenter Dr Penny Watt, from the university’s department of animal and plant sciences, said: “It was a wonderful event which brought the secrets of the ocean to life in a really imaginative way.

“The highlight for me was the Octagon being plunged into darkness before the sight of youngsters waving hundreds of glow sticks to demonstrate how some animals deep at the bottom of the sea can produce their own light. To see so many children so engaged and excited about science is very rewarding.”

“This is the sixth time we have organised a Christmas lecture for local schoolchildren and it’s great to see the children learning about science and having fun at the same time, and we hope that some of them will be inspired to come to university and form the next generation of scientists.”