The Christmas Science Lecture returned to St Peter’s School this week, much to the delight of pupils at St Peter’s 13-18.
St Peter’s has hosted a Christmas Science Lecture each year since the 1980s, but last year the lecture was postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions.
This year, pupils at St Peter’s 13-18 enjoyed a stunning display from the Science Departments in the Memorial Hall on Tuesday 14 December and Wednesday 15 December.
The Science Lecture included demonstrations and talks on the theme ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’.
We discovered how the retina works with our biologists demonstrating how the cone cells in the eye allow us to see in colour. This also gave our biology teachers the chance to show off their Irish Jig dancing skills, as an analogy for excited cells. The Biology Department also showed us examples of camouflage effects for both predators and prey. Birds of paradise and their amazing plumage as an example of sexual selection, the use of light, iridescence and the blackest black feathers known in the natural world.
What colour is Sellotape? - Was the question posed by physics, with a terrific demonstration of how polarised light passing through Sellotape produces a rainbow of colour. How light waves produce amazing iridescence effects that occur in nature was also explored. The most fun example was very large bubbles which illustrated the effect beautifully.
The Chemistry Department showcased their interpretation of the theme ‘Bright and Beautiful’ with a number of colour changing chemical reactions. Dr Boddy produced a complete rainbow in a burette. She also explained and demonstrated how the movement of just a single hydrogen ion, can completely change the appearance of a solution. Dr Boddy demonstrated a very bright chemical reaction - the Screaming Jelly Baby as the finale!
Mr Norman showed us how quantum physics can explain effects, like fluorescence and phosphorescence, demonstrating the effects with lasers and UV lights.
A huge thanks go to all our inspiring science teacher colleagues this year, for putting on a superb show. Thanks also to our science technicians, ICT staff and technical crew who ensured that everything could be seen and heard and ran smoothly.
Regrettably, we made the decision to cancel the public Christmas Science Lecture on the evening of Tuesday 14 December in light of government restrictions and to ensure the safety of attendees and all members of the school community.
