Colchester Royal Grammar School

Lexden Road Colchester Essex CO3 3ND Headmaster: K L Jenkinson MA

Telephone: Colchester (01206) 509100 Email: info@crgs.co.uk

March 2010

Dear Parent/Guardian,

National Science and Engineering Week: 12 – 21 March 2010

I am writing to inform of you of some exciting activities taking place at CRGS in and around National
Science and Engineering week this month.

We have a series of special events planned. We start the programme with a ‘Particle Physics’ lecture
for Year 12 Physics students on Thursday 18 March during periods 5 and 6. However any other Year
12 or 13 student who has a free period at that time is also very welcome to attend. We are also very
pleased that A-level Physics students from Philip Morant College and Colchester County High School
will also be attending. During lunchtimes outside the Chemistry block during the week we will again
try to monitor sunspot activity, although of course this is weather dependent! Students from all year
groups are welcome to take part.

Equinox Science Fair 2010: Saturday 20 March, 1.30 – 4.00 p.m.

The recently named ‘Equinox Science Fair’ will consist of practical demonstrations and activities by
CRGS students in the Hall, to raise awareness of and interest in science. I am also very pleased that
there will be a series of mini-lectures by sixth-form students taking the brief of ‘Teach your parents
some science!’ They will be giving lectures on such diverse topics as, ‘Genetic Engineering’, ‘The
History of the Atom’ and ‘Biodiversity’. This event is free of charge and its aim is to raise awareness
of science within the school, the local community and amongst the general public, and although
children of school age will find it particularly interesting, I suspect that their parents will too!

Astrofest 2010: Wednesday 31 March, 7.00 – 9.30 p.m.

An evening of astronomy in association with the North Essex Astronomical Society (NEAS). The
‘Astrofest’ will begin at 7.00 p.m. in the Hall with a one hour lecture by author and science journalist
Dr Stuart Clark, on ‘Do we need a new theory of Gravity?’ Dr Clark has recently written two front
page articles for New Scientist, and was formerly editor of the British astronomy magazine Astronomy
Now. He currently writes articles for the BBC magazine Focus and is increasingly involved with the
work of the European Space Agency. After the lecture, Dr Clark will host a brief question and answer
session on any chosen astronomy topic.

From 8.45 to 9.30 p.m. there will be a team of astronomers from the NEAS in the school grounds
outside the science block. Weather permitting, guests will be able to see some planets, the Moon, the
Orion Nebula and any other objects they can target with their telescopes. If the weather is poor then
there will still be a film in room X and displays to look at after the lecture. The NEAS will also able to
give advice on purchasing and using telescopes.

Both of these main events are open to the general public and there is no need to book. However the
astronomy lecture will start promptly at 7.30 p.m. and seats in the Hall will be allocated on a ‘first
come-first served’ basis until we have reached capacity. Car parking will be available via the Creffield
Road entrance. I have enclosed a summary of the programme of events for science week overleaf
and I hope that you will be able to support the activities, particularly the CRGS students doing their bit
to raise the profile of this inspiring subject. If you have any questions about the events, please do not
hesitate to contact me at RAdams@crgs.co.uk

Yours sincerely,

Richard Adams
Director of Specialism (Science & Mathematics)
Ref: 290118
 The International year of Biodiversity! 

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

Date Event Time/ Venue

Monday OBSERVING Lunchtime (weather permitting)
15th March THE SUN Outside the Chemistry block.
Wednesday OBSERVING Lunchtime (weather permitting)
17th March THE SUN Outside the Chemistry Block

Professor Steve Lloyd, Head of Particle Physics

Research Centre, Queen Mary College, London.
Thursday PARTICLE In the School Hall, 11.35am-12.35pm
18th March PHYSICS (Periods 5 & 6)
LECTURE Year 12 Physics students from CRGS, Philip
Morant, CCHS plus any Year 12 /13 student on a
study period during that time.
1.30 - 4.00 p.m. School Hall
Demonstrations of science experiments by
students from CRGS.
EQUINOX Plus!
Lectures on the big science topics by CRGS
Saturday The CRGS sixth form students e.g.
20th March Spring  Genetic Engineering
Science Fair  The History of the Atom
 Biodiversity
Plus a demonstration of Green power in the Large
close.
Open to the general public, just turn up.
Tuesday FORENSIC SCIENCE In the School Hall 1.30 – 3.40pm
30th March WORKSHOP (Year 8 students only)
7.30 – 8.30 p.m: Astronomy Lecture
“Do we need a new theory of Gravity?”
ASTROFEST by Dr. Stuart Clark (School Hall)
Wednesday 8.30 – 8.45 p.m. Question and Answer session
31st March 2010 8.45 – 9.30 p.m. Observing sessions with NEAS
(outside the science block). Observing the planets,
An evening of The Moon and Nebulae etc.
Astronomy with North Throughout the evening – photographic displays,
Essex Astronomical a film in room X and advice by the NEAS.
Society (NEAS) Open to the general public, just turn up.