Two academics from the Faculty of Science and Technology joined the team at Light Up Lancaster to deliver fascinating hands-on sessions to children in The Storey Institute over the course of Explore Week.

Dr Phil Donkersley of Lancaster Environment Centre and Dr Lefteris Danos of Lancaster’s Chemistry Department both collaborated with Light Up Lancaster to help deliver science-based activities for their inaugural “Explore Week”. Explore Week – taking place over the week of the half term holidays for many of the schools in the area – was aimed at educating young children about “The Art of Science” in a new and interactive format.

Dr Donkersley (aka “Dr Bees”) delivered a session of messy fun on the Monday, which allowed children to paint their own bumblebee nest box, which were 3D-printed out of wood in collaboration with the University’s School of Engineering. The afternoon session was dedicated to a short talk about bumblebees from Dr Donkersley, their importance as pollinators, and the best places for the audience to put their nest boxes to help bolster the dwindling population of these vital members of our ecosystem.

Dr Danos’ sessions on “What is a Luminescent Solar Concentrator (LSC)” took place on the Wednesday and Thursday of the week, in which Dr Danos and his PhD students showcased their LSCs with keen young scientists, explaining how these 3D printed panels could be the next generation of solar technologies due to their more versatile use cases , such as in windows.

On the success of the event, Dr Donkersley commented: “It was so wonderful getting to see something that has occupied me for the past five years excite and engage people from all ages and backgrounds. One of the warmest thoughts is knowing that they will get to take home what they have done today, keep it in their gardens and keep bumblebees at the forefront of their minds whenever they come home. I know that making a little room for nature can have huge benefits for wellbeing, and I am glad this event made the people attending also get to experience this wonder.”

Dr Danos added: “It was great to showcase our research to members of the public. Our demonstration of how Luminescent Solar Concentrators operate was well received and we had many stimulating conversations. We are excited to translate our research into working products in the near future.”

Additionally, Dr Donkersley is also working in collaboration with Dudley-based glassblower Elliot Walker to produce an exhibit for the main Light Up Lancaster event showcasing a bumblebee nest constructed entirely out of glass. Elliot Walker of Blowfish Glass is an award-winning glassblower, and recently won the first series of Netflix’s glass-blowing competition programme, “Blown Away”.

The exhibit, “Insect Architecture”, will be viewable in The Storey Music Room from 5pm-10pm on the 7^th-9^th of November – see the Light Up Lancaster official site for more details.