EXPLODING food and raw electrical power were on show in an entertaining – and often dramatic – celebration of science at Lomond School in Helensburgh.

The school played host to two science shows – one for pupils from P1 to P6 during the school day and one for the general public in the evening.

Lomond was delighted to welcome back Sarah-Jane Judge from the Royal Institution, who once again showed how science is all around us – if we know where to look!

The evening show was an updated edition of the ‘Bringing Science to Life’ show Sarah-Jane brought to Lomond 12 months ago, which showcased familiar and popular experiments such as the Jellybaby Firework and the Lightbulb Gherkin alongside newer demonstrations such as the Whoosh Bottle, which showed how rocket fuel powers jet engines.

With help from volunteers, Sarah-Jane also demonstrated the power of electromagnetism through a tug of war with the volunteers finding it impossible to separate two electrified magnets until they were almost sent tumbling to the floor at the flip of a switch, as the interruption of the electric current broke them apart.

Other experiments showed the audience the role of catalysts and enzymes in food as the audience watched a bottle of lemonade erupt after she dropped in a packet of Mentos.

And an experiment with wire wool showed how metal can burn easily, and how the filament in a lightbulb would also burn were it not for the glass surround protecting it.

The most eye-catching experiment, however, saw Sarah-Jane demonstrating the energy in fuel by setting fire to bubbles!

Sarah-Jane’s visit to Lomond School last week was the first time the Royal Institute has done a follow-up show for a school in Scotland and she is very passionate about the role the Science in Schools programme has to play.

"The Royal Institute is probably better known down south than it is in Scotland," she said, "but the idea of these events is to promote its work and to engage as many young people as possible in science."

Lomond School’s principal Johanna Urquhart said ‘Sarah-Jane once again did a fantastic job presenting the two shows.

"From our P1 class to the mums, dads and grandparents who came to watch in the evening, everyone enjoyed the show and learnt something new.

"We are very passionate about STEM [science, technology, engineering and maths] at Lomond, and we are always looking for opportunities to bring this to life in ways that are accessible even for our younger pupils."