Science: Unlocking potential with DR Caroline Oprandi

News and chat from the frontline of science and technology at PACA

Down at Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA), we have been busy “standing on the shoulders of giants so that we can see further,” and “imagining what it is like to ride a moonbeam”. Not that we are Newton, or Einstein, but it surely has to be a good thing to enthuse the next generation into realising that the only thing holding them back is themselves.

At PACA’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Centre, it is all about having a go and not being afraid to make mistakes or say something that might initially sound foolish. Most great scientists were told in their lifetime; “No, you can’t be serious!”

It seemed a bit unlikely that we would get the go-ahead and funding to build an observatory at PACA, to build and race an electric powered car at Goodwood, or even to make our STEM Centre doorway into the TARDIS. But we have. The University of Sussex and the University of Brighton are working with us, as well as local industries such as Shoreham Port. Our kids are entering competitions such as ‘The Great British Make Off’ and ‘Design a Settlement in Space’, with the prize being a trip to NASA!

At STEM, it is all about having a go …

We have even started to call the outside raised beds the ‘tea plantation’. Well, at least Dean* has done so. That takes me back to my Unilever days, where there actually was a tea plantation on site; days when I was sat on tropical beaches with my BA Executive Club Card and Corporate Gold Card in hand, dressed in a business suit. Quinty* is gradually coming around to the idea that corporate businesses aren’t all bad.

Finally, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to Dr Greg Scutt (Principal Clinical Lecturer at the University of Brighton) and teamfor bringing in ‘SimMan’ the other day … I’ll tell you more about him next week!

*Formal introductions to follow next time.