Interactive Displays
This Event has Ended
Festival of Citizen Science - British Science Week 2020
Thank you to everyone who has been involved in this event,
we couldn't have done it without you!
Are you ready for British Science Week 2021?
Here are the interactive displays for British Science Week 2020, that were held at the Downside Community Centre.
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If you would like to hold an event during British Science Week 2021 then there is potential funding available for next year .
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A selection of fossils from the Isle of Wight will be available to handle and explore. An expert will be on hand to answer questions and stimulate discussion!
Bring along your own fossils for identification... Put our Palaeontologist to the test!!
Fossils of the Isle of Wight
Dinosaur Isle
British Science Week 2020 Event
This is a hands-on display!
Explore the finer detail of our fossils with a high definition microscope viewed on a large screen to determine how we use the close up image information to more precisely identify fossils and the environment the former creatures lived in.
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ACTIVITY: What did Dinosaurs look like? What colours would they be?
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Using colouring sheets we'll explore what colours you think dinosaurs would have been!
Become a Citizen Scientist and talk with Citizen Scientist Volunteers on how to become involved in hands-on science across the island and help support the vital work of the Wildlife Trusts' island nature reserves that are free for us all to visit + enjoy.
SEED BOMBS + BUGS!
British Science Week 2020 Event
Nature Table and Bug Habitat Creation in the centre's garden. Advice on how to create your own nature gardens at home to bring plants, bugs'n'birds in... oh and something else...SEED BOMBING...Let's go WILD!!!
British Science Week 2020 Event
How can we hold our breath under water for
a very long time!? Discover all the amazing science
behind diving AND underwater Archaeology...
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How is this even possible?
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This display includes dive kit and real artefacts from shipwrecks in the Solent.
Explore how archaeologists work under the sea to explore shipwrecks and submerged landscapes. Learn how divers unravel the stories of lost ships and and explore our maritime past.
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The Science of Diving
British Science Week's
Zooniverse Citizen Science Project
This year’s British Science Week chosen citizen science project, is calling on the public to help scientists tackle deforestation and habitat loss, from the comfort of their own sofa.
British Science Week 2020 Event
Citizen Scientists i.e. you are encouraged to tag footage of endangered and vulnerable spider monkeys in Central America, which has been captured using drone-mounted thermal-infrared cameras.
With the black spider monkey population estimated to have fallen by 30% in the last 45 years, primarily due to habitat loss and hunting, this is vital work.
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Spotting Spider Monkeys applies drone and remote sensing technology to methods developed in astrophysics, climate and atmospheric science, computer science, and engineering to tackle major global challenges such as poaching.
Zooniverse
Citizen Science IOW
British Science Week 2020 Event
Zooniverse is a fun interactive computer based activity for all ages + abilities. It's perfect from 3-103yrs: for families or people with mobility challenges as you can 'Zooniverse' from the comfort of your sofa!
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Jump into the Amazing World of Zooniverse and take part in
LIVE Interactive Scientific Research...
Scientists have so much data that they can’t sift through it quick enough, so they need help from Citizen Scientists to help ‘classify’ the data. This is because human eyes and ears, are better than computers! So Ignite your Inner Scientist + become an Online 'Citizen Scientist' and contribute to live projects from NASA Space Programmes to Wildlife Conservation and even Historical Manuscripts Preservation…we’ll show you how! Note: No computer experience needed
Search Earth's backyard Solar System for Planet 9 in the realm beyond Neptune. From new brown dwarfs to undiscovered planets, what will you discover?
The UK's most important marine habitat is in decline, help us understand why and find out more about the animals that live there.
Explore the worlds of wonder seen through the microscope. Help us identify and classify nineteenth-century microscopy illustrations.
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CITIZEN SCIENCE IOW
Ignite your Inner Scientist
British Science Week 2020 Event
Interested in becoming a Citizen Scientist? Talk to Citizen Scientist volunteers at the 'Citizen Science Isle of Wight' display which showcases a range of local, national and international Citizen Science Project Opportunities which visitors can access locally.
Citizen Science Display
Citizen Science IOW
CITIZEN SCIENCE IOW
Ignite your Inner Scientist
For British Science Week, Citizen Science IOW, has chosen the following LIVE projects to focus on during the 2-day event:
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Local: Pan's Green Spaces Project
On Friday 13th March throughout the day at the centre, take part in research about Pan's local green spaces with an 'onsite' Researcher who is seeking your views and experience of the local area with a view to increase and enhance the biodiversity of Pan for the future.
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National: The Big Microplastic Survey FREE Click here for tickets
On Friday 20th March 10:45 - 16:15, join us for 'On Site Citizen Science' on Ryde Beach with a team of Portsmouth University Students, to collect, classify and document how much microplastics are hidden within our island beach sand. This data will be added to a vast database of microplastics from across the globe, to help calculate 'how much microplastics' are in our oceans. So Portsmouth University can plan resources for the day, please let them know you going via a free ticket. If not, just bring sieve's, buckets and spades with you!
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IGNITE YOUR
INNER SCIENTIST!
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These locally accessible Citizen Science projects, encourages people of all ages and abilities to take part and make a difference to science.
International: Zooniverse 'Spotting Spider Monkeys in the Rain Forest'
Using the Centre's Computer Suite, this year’s British Science Week Citizen Science LIVE Project, is calling on the public to help scientists tackle deforestation and habitat loss. How? By tagging footage of endangered and vulnerable spider monkeys in Central America, which has been captured using drone-mounted thermal-infrared cameras.
Discover the Science of Movie Magic and how human eyes can be tricked into seeing things that aren't really there!
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Lights Camera Action! Suitable for 5+ years​
Spend as long of as little time as you like creating your very own Animation using free animation software and your imagination.
British Science Week 2020 Event
Directors, Camera Crew, Story Boarders and Continuity are needed, so bring along your mobile phone or camera and family members to join in with the Animation Drop-in Interactive Displays where you'll discover Stop Start Animation techniques for your animation, using just your mobile phone or camera + the wonders of Green Screen and Free 'Animate IT' software. TIP: Download the free Animate It Lite for mobile phones onto your mobile before this event, so you're ready to animate straight away - if not, we'll show you how to!
CREATE YOUR OWN 'TOY STORY' ANIMATION
TimeSlide Studios
Bring along your favourite toys to create your own Toy Story!
Take as long or as little time as you like to Create your own 3D Model
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3D Hypsilophodon, Brachiosaurus, Neovenator Dinosaur or
Palaeo Sea Turtles, Sharks or Ammonite Models out of Colourful Card.
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Chat about all things 'dinosaur' and discover interesting facts and
snip bits along the way.
3D Creative Card Modelling
Citizen Science IOW
British Science Week 2020 Event
Your models can also be animated
to create your own mini movie!
CITIZEN SCIENCE IOW
Ignite your Inner Scientist
Suitable for 3 - 103yrs!
DINO rRrRUN!
Citizen Science IOW
How Brave would you be, if you came face-to-face with a Living Dinosaur?!
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Ever wondered what it would be like to meet a real dinosaur?
Well now you can! A Flock of Living Dinosaur will be visiting the event, so you can get up close and discover that Dinosaurs really do still exist to this very day!
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In June 2018 Scientists confirmed that all birds are dinosaurs!!
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So we will study the ins and outs of some living Dinosaurs to find out how they have adapted to modern life by comparing the modern day Chicken with it's 100 million year old Grandparent...T-Rex!
British Science Week 2020 Event
CITIZEN SCIENCE IOW
Ignite your Inner Scientist
Hit 'Play' + Turn up the music!
HOW BIG?
Palaeo Sea Creatures
Citizen Science IOW
Discover 'HOW BIG?' the Palaeo Sea creatures were that lived 200 million years ago, before the island and our island dinosaurs even existed! The 'HOW BIG?' Board is designed for our younger visitors to relate to the different sizes of Palaeo Sea creatures that lived on TOP of the island, sparking discussions and interactive debates on how these creatures lived and what their environment was like during the time of the Jurassic Period. Fossils of these creatures can be found, if you're really lucky, on our sea shores - check out the Fossil boxes to see what they look like!
British Science Week 2020 Event
CITIZEN SCIENCE IOW
Ignite your Inner Scientist
Before there was 'land', there was 'sea' - so BEFORE the Dinosaurs there were Palaeo Sea Creatures like Pliosaur, Plesiosaur, Hybodont Sharks and our favourites...Ammonities!
Wonder of Wildlife Gardening
Bring along your Green Fingers and help make the
Downside Community Centre Gardens grow...
A Fabulous Free Activity in the Fresh Air so wrap up warm and wear wellies if you plan to dig!
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Following last year's Big Butterfly Count in the gardens, we discovered that the garden has no plants and flowers to attract bees or butterflies, which means less birds come to visit.
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British Science Week 2020 Event
During British Science Week 2020 we are planning to plant the gardens with wildlife friendly flowers to attract Bugs and Birds!
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So Bring along your Buddleia! If you are a keen Gardener 'Pass on your Wisdom' and gardening knowledge to visitors so they can create their own wildlife friendly gardens at home, or if you happen to have any plant cuttings or seeds to spare, bring them along for the children to plant!
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Then for the Big Butterfly Count 2020 we'll see if our efforts have increased the Butterfly Biodiversity in the Downside Centre's gardens!