Kids engrossed in the fun of science

Photo: Paul Sterritt

Street entertainment in Oldham town centre. The Bubble Wizard entertains the crowd.

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BUDDING scientists came out to play in Oldham over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Creativity and science collided at Festival Oldham on Saturday, as this year's events celebrated the town's rich scientific heritage to mark Manchester as the European City of Science 2016.

From creating slime and rockets, to going on a science trail and going in a time machine, children were all smiles and giggles as they got to grips with all-things-science - and even the adults joined in all the fun while enjoying a rare sunny day in Oldham.

Festival Oldham is an annual event, funded by Arts Council England and Oldham Town Centre Partnership, delivered by Oldham Council Arts Development.

"Explosive Emma", from Mad Science, explained to an enthralled bunch of children the scientific process of making slime - in a fun and engaging way.

She said: "Our science-based experiments are always hands on. We like to make it fun and it's good for children, who enjoy it.

"It's the best way to learn. Talking about things like polymers and chemicals, it can be a bit much. This way it sticks in their minds."

Adele Navesey-Hall brought seven-year-old daughter Darci to make her very own yellow-coloured slime.

She said: "We came specially from Shaw for this. I thought it was really interesting. Science is her favourite subject. It's a very nice event, very good for families."

And what's a festival without some music to liven things up.

Music group Juba de Leao played the floor-shaking rhythms and vibrant dances of North-Eastern Brazil, taking the audience on an enlightening tour of the intoxicating grooves of South America.

With booming bass drums and slicing snare lines, each performance offered a dynamic journey of Brazilian coastal grooves which got people dancing and singing along.

Katherine Heaton brought along her one-year-old son Oliver from Chadderton to enjoy the music. She said: "We came into town for food but then we saw this. It was really good, I loved it."

There was certainly a buzz around the Van de Graaff generator. Most of us have seen the device that looks like a big aluminium ball mounted on a pedestal, which makes your hair stand on end.

The Van de Graaff produces very high voltage direct current electricity at low current levels. Even I took part, feeling the electricity surging in my head and seeing my hair starting to stick out a funny angle.

'Tornado Toni', from Mad Science, explained that humans are good conductors of electricity, as we are full of water. Sarah and Carl Burks, from Saddleworth, brought along six-year-old Ellen for a scientific day out.

Carl said: "She's really enjoyed it. She was really excited - and her hair is still sticking up! She loves science, she loves studying it at school."

Michael Lightfoot, from Lees, came with son Jude (8), who enjoyed testing out the Van de Graaff. Michael said: "We've been walking around and seen quite a few things. We're enjoying a family day out.

"My son came home from school with the leaflet, and said we have to go! He wanted to go on the Van de Graaff."

And at one point it did rain - with bubbles that is. A wide circle of excited children were watching the bubbleologists create all kinds of weird and wonderful shapes, and trying to catch the shower of bubbles before they went pop.