Cambridge Science Festival

National Science Week in the UK and Cambridge University is doing its bit to entertain and educate the public. For more information see http://comms.group.cam.ac.uk/sciencefestival/. Science departments have thrown open their doors and are giving lectures and presentations to anyone brave enough to enter the buildings. My department is giving a series of hands-on experiments and demonstrations in one of our large teaching classrooms at the week-end. Academics, post-docs, graduate students and classroom support staff all give their time freely to prepare and host this event. Our contribution is based on the stuff that we teach the undergraduates and also on the research activities in the department. It can be quite challenging trying to explain complex scientific concepts to the general public, many of whom have only basic scientific knowledge. It requires a certain skill in communication to explain difficult concepts in terms that can be understood by the person you are talking to. You have to try to quickly judge what their level of scientific knowledge might be and adapt your explanations accordingly. No point explaining the structure of an atom to a nuclear physicist or a 5 year old. Sometimes it's clear from the glazed eyes that you have pitched your explanation at the wrong level and lost them completely. In general, however, I have always been impressed by the enthusiasm of the visitors and how quickly most people can understand the concept of what you are telling them. The most important thing is to be passionate about what you are explaining; enthusiasm can hold an audience and a monotone drone will lose them.