Science LIVE! Student Event at Disneyland® Paris

Dr Pathmanathan is a science education consultant with over 20 years of experience in science education and informal science learning. She develops hands-on science activities, educational resources and writes non-fiction children's books. Her debut book, Utterly Jarvellous published by Bloomsbury, was the winner of the 2021 Teach Primary Book Award for STEM. As well as creating these resources Sai runs free workshops for schools, families and communities (locally, nationally and internationally), often using hands-on activities, storytelling and entertainment media. Sai also consults on science communication and public engagement projects, especially around ones that promote equity, diversity and inclusion in education. 

Many people think that the entertainment media is purely about fun. There’s nothing to learn, is there? But actually in order to be believable and authentic, those in entertainment media actually work very closely with experts in various fields, including the sciences. In a world where biodiversity, sustainability, climate change and looking after our planet’s health to help our own health is becoming increasingly important, we might need to turn to the entertainment media to raise awareness of these issues. Sai’s talk will cover how and what we can learn from entertainment such as animated Disney feature films, how our brains work when we watch these movies and what inspirational environmental messages are embedded in many of them. 

Brendan Walker is an experienced public speaker and broadcaster. A true polymath, his expertise span art, design, science, technology, and engineering. He has spoken at Tate Modern about his work, as well as delivered science and technology Christmas public lectures. He currently holds the post of Professor of Creative Industries at Middlesex University.
 
Brendan is founder-director of Studio Go Go Limited – a 21st century ride design company supported by Innovate UK. He recently gave the keynote at the inaugural symposium of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions industry in Florida. He is also founder-director of Thrill Laboratory, and regularly features in character as 'The Thrill Engineer', which has included appearances on The One Show, Bang Goes The Theory and Blue Peter.

Brendan will bring his expertise of the science behind rollercoasters and theme park attractions to life for our Science LIVE! audience.

Our LIVE! Events Team provide expert on-site support throughout your stay to make your trip as easy and memorable as possible: 

• Be on-hand & provide assistance throughout the event 
• Register your students at the conference & take questions 

Our complementary workbooks are designed to be used as your group enjoy the Disney® Parks. The workbooks contain park challenges which encourage students to take a step back and critically appraise the resort from their subject perspective. These park challenges provide opportunity for problem solving, decision making as well as working together so that your students get the maximum from the their time at Disneyland® Paris.

Our lively and interactive question and answer session gives the students control to ask the questions they want answers to. All the speakers take to the stage to answer questions to provide different perspectives and to offer invaluable career advice from their own experience.

Dr Matt Pritchard is a Curator of Wonder. His amazing performances both inspire and inform, and his enthusiasm for dynamic learning will captivate your students, leaving them excited for our Psychology LIVE! speakers. 

Previously Matt conducted research at Durham University before working at Thinktank Science Museum. In addition to this experience, he has 25 years working as a professional magician and is an Associate of the Inner Magic Circle - one of only 300 people in the world to hold this distinction. 

Matt is a TEDx speaker, Fellow of the Professional Speaking Association, runner up in the 'Illusion of the Year Contest' 2020, and an inadvertent TikTok sensation.