In July S4 attended Merthyr Tydfil’s first ever Bitesize Science Festival! The event was held on 29th July at St David’s Parish Church on Merthyr’s high street. Shows, talks and hands on science fun joined the town’s annual food festival, giving the science events a tasty food theme.
Joining stands from The Marine Conservation Society, The National Museum of Wales and The Royal Societies of Chemistry, visitors to the team S4 stand were introduced to hands on activities all about food bugs and the science of molecular gastronomy!
Molecular gastronomy is a type of science that explores the chemical and physical changes that happen to ingredients when we cook them. It’s a super fun way to learn about the science of nutrition.
Festival goers were able to use microscopes to observe food and microorganisms, with S4 microbiologist Dr Catie Williams, who’s PhD researched the microorganisms in chimpanzee poop, on hand to answer questions. Participants were also able to try their hand at molecular gastronomy to make edible fruit juice balls – like the edible water pods used in this year’s London marathon!
Merthyr Tydfil’s inaugural science fest was a blast, and we can’t wait for next year’s!