A ROADSHOW touring Cumbria this month aims to ignite a scientific spark among 4,000 school pupils.

London’s Science Museum is touring nine secondary schools demonstrating the wonders of the human body as part of its outreach work.

The visits, taking place this week and January 27 to 31, have been arranged by the University of Cumbria with support from the Sir John Fisher Foundation.

It is part of the university’s ongoing work to champion science and related subjects to children and young people across the county, highlighting how they can be studied at higher levels here in the county.

The 45-minute It Takes Guts show – described as a “gross, squirm-inducing demonstration of why poo is brown” and which features video footage of people’s insides – and the museum’s Medical Marvels workshops about health and medicine, will be taking place in the following schools:

n Queen Elizabeth School, Kirkby Lonsdale;

n Carnforth High School

n Ulverston Victoria High School;

n Kirkbie Kendal School, Kendal;

n Keswick School;

n Caldew School, Dalston;

n Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith;

n William Howard School, Brampton;

n Trinity School, Carlisle.

Medical Marvels’ 60-minute workshops will see pupils exploring the fascinating world of health and medicine and seeking to answer questions such as how we can prevent pandemics, what it takes to become a surgeon and could we be immortal one day. From medieval potions to 3D printed organs, students are handling a range of objects too.

Nigel Smith, STEM co-ordinator at the university, said: “We are delighted to be bringing back the Science Museum outreach team to the county following last year’s successful tour.

“University of Cumbria and partners are working collaboratively together to address the widely-acknowledged skills gap in Cumbria, at a time when it is known the demand for graduates with science-related skills is rising.

“Our focus is to open schoolchildren’s eyes to the possibilities available to them here in Cumbria, and we want our young people to know that they can study science subjects to a higher level on their doorstep without leaving the county.”

Over the last five years the university has expanded its science portfolio. Investing £3.5m in science laboratories, it now offers degrees in biomedical science, microbiology, geography, zoology, applied chemistry and marine and freshwater conservation that complement well-established courses in forensic science and animal conservation science.