First Campus - The Planets

The Planets

Forty years after man first landed on the Moon, Hands On Science, in association with Professor Mark Brake and the Burry Port Band, marked the milestone with ‘The Planets’, a scintillating and fascinating visually-enhanced performance of music inspired by science, science fiction and the stars.

Last Saturday, July 25 - saw the performance of a free concert celebrating the Apollo Moon landings and the International Year of Astronomy at the National Museum, Cardiff following on from the Astronomy Festival which took place during the day.

The unique performance featured one of Wales’s finest brass bands, the 30 piece Burry Port Town Band, along with audio visual displays and fascinating facts presented by Professor Mark Brake. Music featured included works by movie mogul John William (the theme from ‘Star Wars’), Richard Strauss’ iconic theme from the Stanley Kubric Film 2001: A Space Odyssey, ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra’, and of course Gustav Holst’s epic suite ‘The Planets’.

Following the performance the audience expressed their enjoyment of the evning and commented on the originality of the performance, visuals and narration combined. Professor Danny Saunders, Head of the Centre for Life Long Learning at the University of Glamorgan, also commented on what an entertaining evening it had been. The event was organised and sponsored by the HEFCW funded First Campus Hands on Science project, based at the University of Glamorgan. The project aims to enthuse young people about science, and encourage them to study science related subjects at university. ‘The Planets’ was a family event which gave people the opportunity to see science in a different and unique way.

Burry Port Town Band playing Holst's Planet Suite	Professor Mark Brake

Activities & Events
The Science Date 3.0 Apr 12, 2011 On 5th April 2011 five scientists working in South East Wales came face-to-face with 60 pupils from local secondary schools at the third annual Science Date event at UWIC's Cyncoed Campus. Woodland Walk Project Apr 12, 2011 Pupils from St Michael's Primary School in Treforest have recently taken part in a sustainability workshop programme with Hands on Science inspired by the Woodland Walk at the University of Glamorgan's Treforest Campus. Science Rap Video Competition Awards 2011 Apr 11, 2011 On Wednesday 30th March, pupils, parents and teachers gathered at the University of Glamorgan's Students' Union to find out the winners of the Science Rap Video Competition 2011.

Activities & Events

The Science Date 3.0 Apr 12, 2011
On 5th April 2011 five scientists working in South East Wales came face-to-face with 60 pupils from local secondary schools at the third annual Science Date event at UWIC's Cyncoed Campus.

Woodland Walk Project Apr 12, 2011
Pupils from St Michael's Primary School in Treforest have recently taken part in a sustainability workshop programme with Hands on Science inspired by the Woodland Walk at the University of Glamorgan's Treforest Campus.

Science Rap Video Competition Awards 2011 Apr 11, 2011
On Wednesday 30th March, pupils, parents and teachers gathered at the University of Glamorgan's Students' Union to find out the winners of the Science Rap Video Competition 2011.