At the start of this month The Royal Society played host to their annual Summer Science Exhibition week in London, which featured 22 cutting edge science exhibits on a diverse range of subjects, making sure there was something for everyone. A host of different science disciplines were represented including physics, chemistry, biology, geography, psychology and technology. People of all ages and educational backgrounds gathered to experience the interactives and wealth of knowledge that the stands had to offer.
Among the exhibitors was The Pirbright Institute’s very own ‘Flu fighters’ stand and our researchers were joined by those from our sister institute, Roslin, to educate and inspire the public about the latest research on the influenza virus.
The exhibit featured a lifelike chicken, where children and adults alike could have the chance to test how new diagnostics are being developed to give instantaneous results at the pen-side. Touch screen interactives enabled our flu fighting scientists to guide visitors through concepts such as what the virus is composed of, the influenza life cycle, and how the different types (strains) of influenza are named by their outer proteins, such as H1N1.
Our Flu Fighters exhibit was incredibly popular and was highlighted by The Royal Society in a short video they had produced by Red Banana.
Over its seven day duration, The Royal Society saw more than 13,000 visitors attend, made up of a wide variety of people, from school children to Royal Society Fellows. Making exciting new research accessible to the public is a common goal shared by the Royal Society and The Pirbright Institute, and the Summer Science Exhibition provided the perfect platform for our scientists to engage everyone in their science.
Woking MP Johnathon Lord visited the exhibition and said “I am delighted to have met with researchers from The Pirbright Institute and to see first-hand how science taking place in my constituency is not only providing local jobs, but also contributing to national and international efforts to learn more about our world and deliver benefits for all of humanity, particularly with this vital work to prevent the spread of flu viruses.”