Science and Engineering Week

A recent race between encyclopaedias and internet search engines proved the power of the printed word!

Pupils attending the National Science and Engineering Week stands at Aberystwyth University in March were given the opportunity to find the answers to science-related questions using either a laptop or a set of encyclopaedias. Helped by staff from the Information Services department, small teams of pupils raced to find answers to questions such as the date of Einstein’s birth and the number of teeth in an adult mouth. The outcome of the week was 31 wins to the books, with the internet coming in at just 20 wins!

Alongside the race, the pupils also had a chance to use a typewriter from the 1960s, and traditional library date stamps. There was also a small exhibition of archive photographs as well as library and IT equipment, including a library indicator board from the 1930s (showing the availability of books) and some punch cards.

Information Services were involved in Science and Engineering Week for this first time this year and the staff involved felt the event to be a success.