A GROUP of eight students from Eggar’s School went to Oxford to see where learning about material science can take you.

It was a fascinating trip to Begbroke Oxford Nanomaterials workshop, and included a visit to Oxford University’s materials science department.

The Alton-based youngsters met with PhD students who talked to them about their projects, many for multi-million pound companies.

They then took part in six different activities designed to show what nanotechnology is all about and to demonstrate some of the uses in product design, such as coatings that had been applied to a tissue which were completely waterproof.

In the afternoon, after a well-earned rest in the shade of the trees outside the Natural History Museum, the Eggar’s students were lucky enough to be shown round a material science lab. They saw many fascinating instruments and lasers, and witnessed demonstrations such as how temperature can change a magnetic state by using liquid nitrogen.

According to one of the Eggar’s pupils, the experience was “amazing”.

A school spokesmansaid: “It was a truly inspirational day and many parents have already been in contact to say how inspired their children were by the visit.”

The Eggar’s School group are pictured outside the University of Oxford Materials Science Department.