Across the universe with Brian...

Photo: -Darren Robinson

HELLO OLDHAM: Professor Brian Cox at the QE Hall, Oldham.

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STARRY-eyed youngsters were taken on a journey across the universe last night by the town’s science hero Professor Brian Cox.

The Queen Elizabeth Hall heaved with young scientists from schools across the borough to listen to Chadderton-born Prof Cox explain the wonders of the solar system in his talk The Universe From Oldham.

From the rings of Saturn to the recent discoveries on Mars, former Hulme Grammar School pupil Prof Cox talked about his own journey into science - which he put down to a childhood love of astronomy when his own inspirations included American astronomer and writer Carl Sagan.

Prof Cox, who splits his time between Lydgate and London, is best known for his “Wonders of...” series... and also for his former incarnation as the keyboards player in 1990s chart-toppers D:Ream.

He said: “When you observe nature carefully, when you learn more about it, it becomes more magical,” he said. “The great thing about science is that you know when you’re wrong but you don’t know if you’re right.”

Prof Cox, who is keen to get more young people studying science, technology, engineering and maths subjects, said it wasn’t that people aren’t interested in these subjects, but the teaching of them should be made more relevant to their lives. Universities should reach out to young people who will then be able to envisage themselves studying there one day.

“If you live in Oldham, whatever you want to do, you have a leading university five miles down the road,” he added in reference to the University of Manchester, where he is a lecturer. “The doors are always open,” he said

The event was mounted by a collaboration between the town’s secondary schools, colleges and Mahdlo Youth Zone. Mahdlo president Norman Stoller said: “We’re delighted to have here an Oldham lad, who has a fantastic reputation for excellence, coming back to his home town to talk to nearly a thousand young people to inspire them to follow his example.”

Watching with pride was Prof Cox’s former physics teacher. Peter Galloway, who taught at Hulme until three years ago. He said: “He was very bright and inquisitive. He asked a lot of questions. I’m pleased to see my student has done well. I hope it will encourage a lot more to do the same.”

No one was more excited than Prof Cox’s “number one fan” Reece Hampson. Mahdlo volunteer Reece (26) said: “I’m a stargazer too – I’m a typical space geek. I follow a lot of Prof Cox’s work.”

A big surprise was revealed at the end of the session when Royton artist Kath Lowe presented the superstar scientist with a portrait of himself.

Kath said: “It took me a couple of weeks to do. I wanted to paint him from life but because it was a secret, his team sent me two photos to paint from.

“I’m a big fan. He’s a lovely person. He knows so much about his subjects.”