Phillip Rhodes
Arnold Hill Academy, Nottingham, UK

https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.94.49

In 2013, David Gardner was awarded an outreach grant from The Society to support a visit to the University of Nottingham’s School of Biosciences and School of Veterinary Medicine and Science for pupils of Arnold Hill Academy, Nottingham. On 17 October, 16– and 17– year-old pupils from the Academy were welcomed for a full day of activities. Throughout the day, they were given opportunities to observe and use the fantastic facilities available at the university, which they would be unable to experience in school.

The day began with experiments in the Rob Clarke Teaching Lab within the School of Biosciences. These involved investigating the effect of exercise on oxygen consumption and exhaled gas composition using some very impressive exercise bikes and face masks. Carl Stevenson was the academic lead for the practical, which resulted in many red-faced pupils pushing themselves to the limit (well, to 150 W anyway!).

The pupils were then given the chance to perform electromyography (EMG) on their gastrocnemius, with John Harris and Alan Waterfall as academic leads. They conducted a ‘before and after’ experiment on themselves, exploring antagonistic pairs of muscles, nerve conduction and various reflex responses. It was at this point that some pupils took great enjoyment in firmly striking one another with a reflex hammer – naturally all in the name of science!

After lunch, the pupils were split into three groups. One group was given a tour of the fantastic teaching facilities within the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science (including a dissection room, small group teaching room and lecture theatre) in order to experience the varied environments in which veterinary medicine is taught. Another group looked at the school’s veterinary models and specimens in the museum. The remaining group participated in an open discussion and demonstration of cardiac anatomy and physiology delivered by David Gardner – a highlight of which was the plastinated cow and horse hearts.

The pupils found the whole day inspiring. It opened many discussions with lecturers about future careers, physiology and veterinary medicine degree courses and the university application process.

Thank you to The Physiological Society for funding this great opportunity, as well as to David and his colleagues for organising and hosting such a fabulous event.

Feel inspired?

If you’d like to host a similar event at your lab or pursue another way of communicating the excitement of physiology to young people and the wider community, please get in touch: outreach@physoc.org.

The Outreach grant scheme can offer funding of up to £1000 for such activities and is open to all Ordinary Members, Affiliates and Associates of The Society.