Some of the world’s most innovative animals were showcased at a Tipton school event as part of National Science and Engineering Week.
DZG’s presenters Becky Iwahashi and Caroline Howard pictured above alongside Registrar and Research Co-ordinator, Dr David Beeston took part in the STEM event at RSA Academy, which aimed to make science, technology, engineering and mathematics interesting for children.
Caroline said: “We wanted to show how animals can inspire innovation and how some creatures are amazing at problem solving.
“We also took along some examples of how animals can be innovative; including a chinchilla which we explained has very thick fur which has been adapted to keep them warm and white’s tree frogs whose skin helps them retain water.”
The team also used a Cassowary bird skull to show its horn-like soft crest on its head, which is used like a crash helmet and spider skins to explain how the skin is used as protection and support for the bodies.
COCKROACHES AT BOURNVILLE . . .
Caroline also led an outreach session at Bournville School as part of their science week.
Accompanied by a corn snake, a ferret and two hissing cockroaches, the presenter spoke to year seven and eight pupils about how to classify different animals.
Caroline said: “The workshop went well and hopefully we can inspire some children to become taxonomists when they grow up so they may be able to discover their own species.”
