Outreach workshops with author Julia Golding and the Faraday Institute

On Monday 1 July the children’s author Julia Golding and the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion visited St Mary's to run a workshop for students on the relationship between science, religion and literature for St Mary's scholars and a number of gifted and talented Year 5 girls from local primary schools. The workshop was based around Julia’s recent novel The Curious Crime and explored the role of science in literature as well as issues of female representation in the scientific community.  

Julia’s novel The Curious Crime is set in a museum and focuses on the adventures of Reece, a young girl who finds herself in a male dominated world where alternative ideas are swiftly squashed. Prevented from following her passion as a stonemason, Reece soon discovers that the museum and science academy is a place of many secrets. Reece and scholar Henri join forces to solve a series of mysteries and prove their innocence.  

This was a fantastic opportunity to stretch and challenge our scholars and girls from local primary schools with a strong interest in science, literature and the ‘big’ questions. The girls enjoyed a thought-provoking day and were left with plenty to ponder. They were also inspired to begin some writing of their own using science as an inspiration for their own narratives.