We think about scientists as discovering new sub-atomic particles, creating revolutionary drugs and occasionally blowing a few test tubes up - but another exciting area scientists are heavily involved in is sport, which arguably has a greater impact on many of our lives.Did you know scientists have shown that practice really does make perfect - by rewiring your brain, and cutting edge technology gave the Olympic athletics track the perfect mix of durability, springiness and grip?! Scientists design fantastic new materials for super-lightweight bike frames to allow cyclists to break world records, understand our bodies to optimise training techniques, and create anti-doping tests to ensure fairness for all.
To inspire students aged 11-14 to study STEM subjects, GSK has created a wide range of fun lab activities and factsheets (available here) on topics such as 'Anatomy of Success' and 'Brain Power', all of which would bring science to life in the classroom or provide excellent activities for science clubs - forward on the link to your teacher so they can use them in their lessons! You can also look through the resources yourself at home or with a group of friends - but make sure you read any safety guidelines and ask an adult to supervise any of the lab activities.Even more exciting is the opportunity for the students to meet some of the programme’s
ambassadors including world class athletes Beth Tweddle, David Weir, the Brownlee Brothers and
Jenson Button, who are all actively supporting the programme by delivering it to schools and sharing
their expertise about how STEM has shaped modern sport.
For more information and to access their fantastic resources, visit their website or follow @GSKScience on Twitter.
