Young designers picked to fly flag for 25 years of Physics outreach

The winners are Thomas Andrews a Year 5 pupil from Woodside Middle School, Bedford and Catherine Cashman, a Year 8 pupil at Trinity Catholic High School, Essex. Thomas's design (pictured) will feature on 2,500 badges that are being produced for the September Exhibition while Catherine's logo will feature on the Physics at Work booklet which will be received by all visitors and guests at the event. Both Thomas and Catherine have been awarded a prize of a popular science book and they will also be guests at the Physics at Work Gala Evening.

Now in it's 25th year, Physics at Work gives young students the opportunity to come face to face with some of the world's finest physicists with the aim of demystifying the subject for those who find it intimidating. The number of students who sit Physics A-Level has been in steady decline since 1985 and the Physics at Work Exhibition hopes to go some way towards addressing the problem.

This year two and a half thousand teenagers will converge on the Cavendish Laboratory at the University. They'll have the opportunity to view a car capable of doing 2,800 miles to the gallon, to hear how in the future, body-repairing robots might swim in our bloodstreams because of advances in nanotechnology, and also to discover how to detect extra-terrestrial particles. The Physics at Work exhibition features practical demonstrations and short presentations for students, and their teachers will also be well provided for, with an information booklet packed with follow-up ideas for use in lessons throughout the year.

Dr Lisa Jardine-Wright who's Educational Outreach Officer at the Cavendish Laboratory says the logo competition is another great way of getting students thinking about the possibilities of Physics:

"Helping to spread the excitement of modern physics research to students who'll soon be making career and examination choices is vital to encouraging the next generation of scientists and fireing their imaginations about what can be achieved. There's a plethora of career options that open up to them if they choose to study physics at University - at least 26 I can think of off the top of my head."

Physics at Work will run from 15-17 September and is funded by the Institute of Physics and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council with support from a number of industrial sponsors. Places are already fully booked for this year except in the event of cancellations, but dates have already been released for 2010 and 2011. Please follow link on side bar for further information.