The first young people’s Café Sci in Wales was launched last week at Pembroke School library by Jason Bradbury, writer and presenter on Five’s Gadget Show.
Café Sci is a network of school-based cafés designed to bring science to students in an informal and discussion-based format which is anything but boring.
The aim is to link up schools with some of Britain’s most fascinating scientists and stimulate free-thinking conversation about contemporary issues in science and technology.
Jason, who was invited to be the first guest speaker at Pembroke’s Café Sci, said he would have loved to have taken part in one when he was at school.
“I would have set up a Café Sci if they had been around at the time,” he told the pupils. “I was really into science and physics at school. I was mad about it! ”
The Café Sci at Pembroke School was organised by Year 7 pupils Joseph Davies (chairperson) Evan Phillips and Megan Hunter (co-ordinators), Niamh Clarkson and Laura Edward (publicists), William Taylor and Morgan Jones (logistics).
The project was initially set up and co-ordinated by Alastair Birch, Out of School Hours Learning Coordinator with Community Focused Schools, and Sarah Smith, Head of Year 7, with support from Kate Everett from Healthy Schools.
The project also received funding from supermarket chain, Lidl, and probiotic drink manufacturer, Yakult.
Jason hosted a question and answer session with the pupils about all aspects of science and technology – with questions ranging from ‘Which gadget could you do without?’ to ‘How would you change a computer?’
“I would make a computer that works!” he answered. “Too many try to do everything and then they just break down.”
Following the launch of Café Sci, Jason gave a talk in the hall on his recently-published book, ‘Dot Robot’, which attracted rave reviews when it came out earlier this year.
He gave similar talks – complete with robots – earlier this week at Greenhill School in Tenby, Ysgol Bro Gwaun in Fishguard and Milford Comprehensive School.
Councillor Huw George, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, Learning and the Welsh Language, said; “People like Jason Bradbury really make science and technology come alive for young people.
“His enthusiasm is infectious and hopefully all the pupils he met during his tour of Pembrokeshire will have been motivated to learn more about this fascinating subject.”
