Schools - Daresbury Laboratory

One of 4 UK STFC sites, the Laboratory is part of Sci-Tech Daresbury, one of two national science and innovation campuses, which supports scientists, researchers and industry by providing a collaborative and innovative environment to perform cutting-edge research. Daresbury Laboratory is renowned for its world leading scientific research in fields such as accelerator science, bio-medicine, physics, chemistry, materials, engineering and computational science.

Daresbury Laboratory has an active outreach programme which informs people of all ages about how science impacts their everyday lives and inspires the next generation of researchers.

For Key Stage 2 and 3

Energy and Forces - Demonstrates how energy such as light and sound moves in waves
Sustainability and Smart Materials - Looks at energy sources for the future and energy efficient materials
Star Lab - Mobile planetarium. Children can voyage around the Solar System and learn about the other planets, or view the night sky and see the many different constellations
Rockets - Children can make their own rockets, and then test how high they can fly by launching them into the sky

For Key Stage 3, 4 and 5

LHC exhibit – A chance to see a life size cross section of the LHC tunnel together with interactive display, talks on the latest discoveries and where the LHC will take us next.
Talks and Tours – looks at the different science and research that takes place at Daresbury Laboratory
Star parties for astronomy clubs – a chance to learn about the night sky. Includes Starlab, a talk about the Universe, and an introduction to using telescopes

For Key Stage 5

particle physics Materclasses are also available for A Level students to take part in. These events give students a chance to see what goes on at the Laboratory and an opportunity to interact with STFC scientists. Activities for students includes; estimating the injector beam energy in ALICE using only some basic physics and a few simple measurements and an opportunity to experience the computer simulation tools used to design the beam delivery system for linear colliders.

Other ways to interact with Daresbury

As well as the workshops and masterclasses listed above, schools can also interact with Daresbury Laboratory by attending one of our school access days, where students can listen to a lecture from one of our scientists and try lots of hands on experiments which demonstrate fundamental scientific principles.

Daresbury Laboratory also works very closely with MerseySTEM who run Chemistry at Work days at the Laboratory. MerseySTEM provide Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths activities to students in the Merseyside, Warrington and Cheshire regions. At a Chemistry at Work day, students can take part in hands on activities with local employers that demonstrate chemistry within the workplace.

please Note: No dates for our Schools Access days or Chemistry at Work days have been published yet however they will appear here once confirmed.

For further information please email Wendy Cotterill.

Work experience placements at Daresbury Laboratory

Daresbury Laboratory is able to offer work experience placements in a number of different areas of discipline including design, engineering and technology. Due to the popularity of placements and the available resources of the scientists, students can now only be taken during the months April-August.

More information regarding the scheme and the application process is available here.