ScienceWatch

In August the Hart family from Devon took up an offer from Dr Steve Barrett of the Department of Physics to spend a week's 'holiday' working alongside his research group at the cutting edge of scientific research. All members of the family had a general interest in science, but had never been exposed to science at this level. Would it be possible for them to understand what was going on and get involved in real research?

The venue for this unique project, dubbed ScienceWatch 96, was Daresbury Laboratory, home to the UK's synchrotron light source. Here Dr Barrett's group were investigating the properties of new magnetic materials, using equipment put together by the Surface Science Research Centre, the national centre of excellence in the physics, chemistry and materials science of surfaces, based at the University.

What were the reasons for offering this experience to a family? Dr Barrett explains, 'I see this having essentially three functions. The parents, as tax-payers, can see how their money is spent; the youngsters at school can see what it's like to be a university research student; and the third reason for attempting the ScienceWatch venture is as a challenge to me - to see if I can communicate the ideas involved in the research going on here to somebody, young or old, who hasn't got any scientific background beyond their schooling. Can anyone understand what I'm doing?'

Frank Hart is a storeman for an engineering company and his wife, Sue works for a pharmaceutical/cosmetic firm. Rob, 17, is doing his A-levels and Barbara, 15, will be doing her GCSEs next year.

What did the Hart family think during the week? Sue had this to say, 'It's completely different as far as I'm concerned. This is such high-level physics that it's something I've never encountered before, and this is a unique opportunity to learn lots and lots of stuff that there's absolutely no way I would have learnt otherwise. If there are any questions that we need to ask or if there's something that we're not sure of - they're open to questions, which is good'. The attitude of the youngsters was also encouraging. Rob said that what he was doing would make his Physics A-level easier and that he'd remember things better now. Barbara remarked that she found physics taught at school to be rather boring, but was very interested in what was happening at Daresbury - it didn't feel like the same subject at all.

What about the big question? Can anyone understand what you're doing in scientific research? 'The Hart family enjoyed their time spent working with us, and obtained a unique insight into the workings of the scientific process - what for most people is just an abstract concept' said Dr Barrett. 'The most encouraging result of the week is that I have convinced myself that it is possible to communicate science, even at the highest research level, to anyone who wants to learn what it's all about,' he said.