Ever wondered what’s really in the mud under your feet? Staff from the Macaulay Institute will quite literally be dishing the dirt, when they will be presenting events on the theme of soil next week as part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival (Thursday 12th April).

Dr Colin Campbell and Dr Lorna Dawson from the Aberdeen based Institute, will both be hosting fun, hands-on activities as part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival which aims to give children from throughout Scotland inspiring experiences in science.

Dr Colin Campbell will deliver his “Super Soils” workshop, looking at the science behind soil. Focusing on how vital soil is within nature, he will show how it supports all life on land, and how it even affects water and the atmosphere. The workshop will aim to show that the mud beneath your feet is much more than dirt.

“Whodunnit? The Soil’s the Clue!” will be the title of the workshop hosted by Dr Lorna Dawson. From the soil on the soles of your shoes, car tyres or even trouser legs, this workshop will look at how soil is used by forensic scientists to detect vital clues throughout the investigation process.

Dr Lorna Dawson comments: “Through these workshops, we will be engaging children in the subject matters and themes, encouraging involvement and providing a real hands-on experience. Engrossing children in science at an early age by making science as accessible, inspiring and appealing as possible, can produce extremely positive results.”

The Edinburgh International Science Festival takes place from 2nd – 15th April. 133 events will take place in 14 venues throughout Edinburgh, each designed to encourage children to explore, discover, debate and wonder at the marvels of science. For more information visit www.sciencefestival.co.uk.

The Macaulay Institute is the premier land use research institute in the UK. Two hundred and seventy staff are based at the Macaulay Institute at Craigiebuckler in Aberdeen. The Macaulay Institute aims to be an international leader in research on the use of rural land resources for the benefit of people and the environment and is involved in research across the globe; from Scotland to Chile and China. More about the Macaulay Institute can be found at www.macaulay.ac.uk.

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