Great success for city centre science pop-up shop

Replacing the Art in the Heart shop on Bridge Street, the COSMOS Roadshow has set up a range of experiments and activities for young people to interact with and learn from.

As well as plenty of activities to keep people entertained, the team put on shows throughout the day with new experiments and information about scientists such as Isaac Newton.

Since opening, the pop-up shop has been a great success explains Jon London, the outreach manager for the project: “So far we have had around 3,300 visits which has beat the overall goal of 2,500 for our whole visit and that was done in the first week.

“I feel Peterborough is in demand for a science centre which is why we are doing this to see if it will be worthwhile to set one up permanently.”

At the pop-up shop the Mayor of Peterborough, Cllr David Sanders said: “This is a really exciting fun opportunity for young people to learn about science.

“It is great to have an out of the classroom experience available.”

Jeanette Jones from Westwood visited with her son Liam (8) and said: “This is a good children’s activity not only for fun but to help them learn.

“The staff are friendly and inviting which makes the experience even better.”

“Liam also added: “I enjoyed making the paper spinner and making it fly in the air and making a tower with magnets.”

Other visitors included Amelie Troop (7 ) from Deeping St James who said: “I enjoyed the show about Tim Peake and his space mission.

“It is more fun than science at school.”

Kirsty McCluskey from Hempstead, who brought her children along, said: “This is a good thing to pop in to whilst in town.

“It is good to see the kids having fun whilst learning.”

Carlton Brady who is the COSMOS Officer explained how the event was funded and supports the idea of it being a permanent thing: “We get funding from Greater Cambridge/Greater Peterborough Enterprise Project (GCGP) as well as AMGEM who are a scientific company.

“So far people have loved the event and we have had really good responses, which is why we are hoping to make it a permanent thing, especially as Peterborough doesn’t have many facilities for this kind of thing.”

Examples of experiments that are on offer include creating electricity with copper wires and magnets, putting different objects under a UV light as well as making paper rockets and making them float up a tube.

The COSMOS Roadshow is here until September 4, and then will return for a week in December.