'The World of Radioactive Polonium 210'

Date: Tuesday 27 January 2009

Perhaps not the most interesting of lecture titles, but Sixth Form physicists, with teacher Rose Hummerstone found Paddy Regan's presentation at the University of Kent yesterday evening absolutely fascinating.

Six pupils - three from each of the Sixth Form year groups - had been stimulated by the Litvinenko Affair a couple of years ago to want to find out more about Polonium 210, and Miss Hummerstone wished to return to her student days and one of her own physics' lecturers.

The lecture itself presented pure science with relevance, and a challenging topic was explained so well that all our sixth formers benefited from the presentation, especially those with an interest in studying engineering at university.

And - Professor Regan remembered Miss Hummerstone as one of his former students; photo opportunities were not to be missed.

This was just the first of six (!) public lectures to which physics - and all science - pupils are invited during the course of the term. Thanks to Miss H for her initiative!