24.11.2005
Dr Hal Sosabowski (pictured right), star of children's hit TV programme - Ministry of Mayhem, will be performing his Christmas magic show at the University Centre Hastings on 5 December with his technical team Pari, Dav and Seija.
He will entertain and educate members of the public with a series of spectacular experiments, demonstrations and explosions.
Dr Sosabowski, Principal Lecturer in the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences at the University of Brighton, will combine chemicals in experiments with bizarre titles such as 'banana hammer', 'exploding glove' and 'hydrogen thunderbird' in front of approximately 100 members of the public, students and school pupils.
In 'banana hammer' liquid nitrogen is added to a banana so that it becomes rock hard and can hammer a nail into wood. In 'exploding glove' solid carbon dioxide will expand and sublime causing a laboratory glove to swell up like a cow's udder, and explode.
"The show will stimulate all the senses. There will be bright demonstrations, colour, noise, smell... it will be spectacular! Students learn much faster when they enjoy what they see - I really can't believe I get paid to do this great stuff," said Dr Sosabowski.
Beneath the breathtaking experiments lie two serious educational messages - chemistry is important in everyday life and is an interesting career choice. At a time of concern over the closure of chemistry departments in some universities, Dr Sosabowski engages the public in visual exhibition chemistry both in live shows and via television.
He is a contributor to the popular Saturday morning children's television programme Ministry of Mayhem (Foundation TV, ITV1 Saturdays, 09.25-11.15), and regularly appears on 'The Lab' slot, which brings science to children in an amusing and exciting manner. His input involves experiment design, risk assessment, performing experiments or training presenters to carry out experiments under his supervision.
He conceived the idea of Chemistry Trumps for which he jointly received the University of Brighton Innovation Award 2003. This product is now in commercial production by stax-o-facts Ltd. For his work in outreach, exhibition and evangelical chemistry, Hal was awarded the University of Brighton Innovation (Entrepreneurship) Award in 2005 for his Ministry of Chemistry media work.
If you would like to attend the Christmas magic show please email Charlotte Hopes at the University of Brighton at C.Hopes@brighton.ac.uk.
Press and photographers are welcome to attend the event - please contact Rebecca Haroutunian on 01273 643022.
University Centre Hastings (UCH) is managed by the University of Brighton and is a core part of the Hastings & Bexhill Task Force's education-led strategy for local economic regeneration. Courses are delivered and awarded by University of Brighton, Canterbury Christ Church University College, the University of Greenwich, Hastings College of Arts and Technology, The Open University and the University of Sussex. UCH website: www.uch.ac.uk.
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton,
01273 643022
