What a great start to the S Factor! A record-breaking 800 people crowded to the Otley Science Fair on Saturday to enjoy all sorts of hands-on exhibits and displays and, thanks to the new S Factor Project, to meet 22-year-old Woman of the Year and eco-inventor Emily Cummins.
The annual Otley Science Fair was our first outing. Otley Science Festival is an S Factor partner, giving us the chance to raise the profile of science with adult learners, many of whom have had little formal science education. Otley’s science star Marty Jopson (also of the BBC’s One Show) blew things up all day, while Emily demonstrated her sustainable fridge and other inventions. Other S Factor partners were present: Thackray Medical Museum had an interactive display, Vera Media brought women from South Leeds to take photos and space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock was interviewed by South Leeds Community Radio.
And more than 80 adults filled in our questionnaire, indicating that global warming and incurable diseases are high on people’s list of science concerns.
“I’ve had a great day,” said Emily Cummins. “I’ve talked to hundreds of people of all ages, up to 94 years old! Its exciting because students learn science in schools but parents and adults are not so up to date. I love it that the S Factor is reaching adults, so they learn how exciting science is and can share that with their children and others.”
“My science is about changing the world,” Emily added. “This project is helping show just how relevant science is to the world we live in. And as part of it all, its great the project is giving a bigger profile to women.”
The S Factor 