On stranger tides…
Have you ever
wondered why Christchurch in Dorset has a wonky tide curve? Is it because of
the Rivers Stour and Avon emptying into the harbour, or is it because of the
Isle of Wight? Katalytik is delighted
to introduce Time & Tide, a project-led
story and performance piece about Christchurch’s double high tide and the role it
plays within the area.
A community science project, Time & Tide is funded by Department
for Business Innovation and Skills.
Up to March 2015, local business Katalytik will be working with Christchurch Activities for Young People
(CAYP) and scientists from the University
of Southampton and the National
Oceanography Centre Southampton to engage young people in the exploration
of the tidal system as well as the science and history of the harbour
environment around Christchurch. The
results will be showcased on social media and culminate in a public activity
day and storytelling performance - in Christchurch at the end of March, 2015.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is
pleased to support this project which takes science into a community setting. A
spokesperson said: “It is our hope as
a result of being engaged with this project that local people will feel better
informed about science issues affecting them and be inspired to be involved
further in the future.”
“We’re delighted to announce Martin Maudsley as the project
storyteller. Martin helped develop ‘The Gathering of the Winds’ for the 2012 Olympic
Sailing venue” says Jan Peters, project lead. “Our aim is to explore and share
another reason why Christchurch is special through the creation of a narrative
of the tides interweaving science, history and folklore.”
Jae Harris, of CAYP, said: I’m thrilled to be able to offer
a new Saturday Club – Project TnT - for young people as part of this project.
The Project TnT will explore the harbour environment, the life in and around
the harbour and explore monsters of the mud and deep sea. The Club will run in
Somerford from January through to the end of March, from 10-12:00 and will
bring young people into contact with a range of different companies and
scientists interested in our harbour and its local environment,” Young people
age 10-12 are welcome. Contact CAYP.
Time & Tide project leader and Katalytik MD, Jan Peters says. “Living in Christchurch
for over 20 years, I’m excited to connect local people with our amazing local
resources and share my excitement about what makes our harbour so special”. She
adds, “I can still recall as an oceanography student finding out about strange
tides and was thrilled when I came to live here and saw the benefit of the
weird tide curve that keeps the harbour full for longer than it would be,
enabling us to windsurf and sail in such safe conditions for most of a day."
Professor Duncan Purdie from the University of
Southampton who is leading a current
NERC funded research project
investigating the impact that plant nutrients from the rivers Avon and Stour have on the water quality of the Christchurch
Harbour estuary says “through this Tide and Time project we are
keen to introduce the local community to the research that is currently being undertaken to understand how
changes in the tide influence the movement and impact of plant nutrients from
the two rivers through Christchurch
Harbour and into the adjacent coastal waters of the English Channel. ”
Follow us on Facebook or visit the Time & Tide website:
www.christchurch-macronutrients.org.uk/
for real time monitoring of the nutrient sin the Harbour and Rivers Avon and
River Stour
Further information
For more information, interviews & images, please contact: Jan
Peters jan.peters@katalytik.co.uk
or call 0797 4011278
- To sign up for the Saturday TnT project contact Jae Harris at CAYP on 07785935928
- In summary the following elements of the project will be taking place:
- A steering group of year 11 students are doing Silver Crest awards - 30 hour research projects for their silver Duke of Edinburgh skill and also volunteering at the Project TnT
- Project TnT will run from January through to March for 20 young people and at half term on 18 February
- A community day – Science Fair in the Square - is planned in Saxon Square for 21 March
- Two adult targeted seminars will take place: on 3 Feb and a further event to be confirmed in March.
- An evening performance of the Story with musical accompaniment is also being planned
About Katalytik
Katalytik is a small consultancy based in Christchurch,
established in 2004, developing and delivering projects across science,
technology, engineering and maths (STEM). We work with educational
organisations and employers to attract, retain and advance enthusiasm and
passion in science and technology. We specialise in inclusion.
Katalytik is also part of the delivery team for STEM Wilts
and Dorset, with Catalyst, offering strategic planning advice to schools around
science, technology and maths and matching volunteers from industry with
schools to support the curriculum, clubs and competitions that aim to inspire
pupils about STEM subjects for more information visit www.stemwiltsdorset.org.uk
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