Physics Department News

Dr Dmitrii Kolotkov has been awarded funding through the Institute of Physics (IOP) Public Engagement Grant Scheme to provide families with opportunities to experience science and physics in some of London’s leading science venues.

The funding supported the Hearsall Family Science Discussion Club, founded by Dmitrii, to arrange two day trips to London in October. Families attended the Royal Institution’s ‘Spooky Science Family Fun Day’ on 24^th October, and ‘Astronomers Take Over’ at Royal Museums Greenwich and the Royal Observatory on 31^st October.

The project aimed to “bring families into contact with physics in inspiring, real places, so that children explore science together with their parents and carers.” The trips welcomed regular club families as well as many new ones, with around 60% of participating families new to the club. For many local families, opportunities to experience science outside school are limited. The IOP financial support allowed the trips to be offered completely free of charge, so that every family could take part. Across the two days, 105 children, parents and carers travelled to London.

Dmitrii said “Public outreach often reaches people who are already engaged with science: a lecture on black holes mostly attracts people who already love black holes. Our aim is harder. We want to reach families who feel science is ‘not for them’, and show them that it is accessible and all around us. That feeling rarely comes from a lack of interest. More often it’s about confidence, cost, or never having been invited in. That is why we set up the club, and the trips were its natural next step. They were free for everyone, we travelled together as one community, and for those two days families could truly feel that science belongs to them and that they belong in science. Seeing children interview scientists, explore Faraday’s laboratory and stand on the Prime Meridian with their parents was wonderful. For many families, this was their first visit to venues like these, and I hope the experience will have a lasting impact for many years to come.”

Images: (top left) - Trip to the Royal Institution, (bottom left) - Trip to the National Maritime Museum, (right) - Interactive session at the 'Astronomers Take Over' event.

Since its launch in March 2025, the club has held sessions every couple of months and attracted more than 500 registrations in total from over 110 households. In June 2026, the Club received a Warwick Award for Public and Community Engagement in the Community Impact category in recognition of its work.