Project Light

The University of Sussex Department of Physics and Astronomy will be working with educational theatre performance company Ensonglopedia to create a stage show that uses live experiments, simple explanations, comedy and newly-written songs to explore the properties of light. We will also develop an accompanying online video and teachers' resource pack tying in the show's learning with the Key Stage 3 syllabus.

During this initial phase, the live performance will be presented 10 times in 3 locations: - twice at the University of Sussex, timetabled as part of pre-arranged outreach events - three times in Spilsby, Lincolnshire, as part of the "Spilsby Lights" family celebration event - three times at Brighton Fringe Festival in May 2024

The teachers' resource pack will be piloted in 2 locations: - at St Andrew's C.E. High School in Worthing, West Sussex - at West Sussex Alternative Provision College (WSAPC), a pupil referral unit in Burgess Hill, West Sussex

Additionally, we will roll out the live show on a wider national tour later in 2024 to both schools and public audiences. Performances will be paid by the venue at public theatres and independent schools, and we will seek Arts Council, IoP and other funding to present the show free-of-charge in state schools and low science engagement settings. We will also make the accompanying video and teacher's pack available online for a broader audience.

The chief aim of all parts of the project will be to educate and enthuse young people (particularly those aged 11-14) and their families about the science of light, including:

- the history of our understanding of light, incorporating ancient concepts as well as breakthroughs by Newton, Maxwell, Einstein, Herschel and others - properties of light, inc. the speed of light & visible light as part of the electromagnetic spectrum - the workings of the eye (human, compound, imaging devices etc.)

- recent breakthroughs in the gathering of light of different wavelengths from distant galaxies, e.g. using the JWST

- contemporary light technology, e.g. LED technology, Virtual and Augmented Reality, and institutions such as Diamond Light Source - the importance of light to life, through an examination of photosynthesis, vitamin D, circadian rhythms etc.

We will be producing a song about each item on the above list, and developing a relevant on-stage experiment, to form part of the live show.