As part of the St Edmund Hall Research Expo 2017, IITM DPhil students Beatrice, Corinna, Cherrelle and Layal ran a series of interactive science demonstrations for the St Edmund Hall community on themes related to their research.
The demonstrations were provided by Oxford Hands-On Science (OxHOS), a student-run society that was set up two years ago by IITM DPhil students Beatrice, Corinna and Megan. OxHOS regularly provides interactive science activities for schools and the general public.

OxHOS leaders Beatrice and Corinna demonstrating how DNA can be extracted from fruits
Activities ranged from extracting DNA from strawberries to seeing how mixing different blood types can trigger immune responses. Cherrelle and Layal used giant soft toy immune cells and microbes to explain how the immune system fights infection and how this process is mimicked through vaccination.

Layal and Cherrelle using giant soft toy immune cells and microbes to talk about infection and vaccination
The day provided a great opportunity for DPhil students to step outside the lab and engage a broad range of people with their research, from non-scientist academics to friends and family of the Hall community, and it was brilliant to receive positive feedback from participants.
Authors: Beatrice Tyrrell and Layal Liverpool
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