Oxford Brookes Science Bazaar 2024

Researchers from Reading will be joining  the Oxford Brookes Science Bazaar on Saturday 3 February, following the theme of ‘curiosity’ and encouraging visitors to ask questions, investigate a wide range of topics, discover new interests and be curious. The annual festival encourages exploration of ‘science’ in the widest possible terms, engaging, for free, with over 3,500 visitors, of all ages and backgrounds.

Researchers from the School of Psychology & Clinical Languages Sciences and the Ure Museum of Ancient Greek Archaeology will exhibiting their exciting topics to visitors.

SEE & EAT: Familiarising pre-schoolers with vegetables through picture books

The SEE & EAT team will be on hand to show visitors how picture books, games and activities can be used to help young children to eat more vegetables. 

The research behind this, led by Professor Carmel Houston-Price, found that pre-schoolers are more likely to eat vegetables at mealtimes if they are already familiar with what the vegetable looks like and where it comes from, and this is especially true for vegetables they don’t like or haven’t tried before.

Carmel and the team will be showcasing SEE & EAT’s picture books and interactive games that show a different vegetable’s journey from farm-to-fork, helping children get to know their vegetables. Studies have found that that after two weeks of looking at a SEE & EAT book for just a few minutes every day, parents find it easier and more enjoyable to give their child vegetables at mealtimes.

Ure Museum: The chemistry of colour in the ancient world

Victoria Stevens from the Ure Museum will be showing visitors how ancient civilisations created a rainbow of colours using natural materials and the power of chemistry. 

The Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology and the School of Chemistry recently teamed up to explore how people in the ancient world created, manipulated and used colour to make the material heritage found at the Museum today.

Using chromatography, the chemistry of dyes and inks, Victoria will be demonstrating how chemical reactions create and alter colours, while getting hands-on with cloth and clay.

The Oxford Brookes Science Bazaar is taking place on Saturday 3rd February from 11:30am–4:00pm.

SEE & EAT and the Ure Museum will both be exhibited on the terrace. 

Find out more about the event.