HE was a regular fixture on children’s television during the 80s and 90s.
So what better person to enthuse children about maths and science than presenter Johnny Ball?
He was at Fareham College yesterday as part of the Education Business Partnership’s annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (Stem) Fair.
Johnny, who has written and presented shows such as Think of a Number and Think Again, presented a lecture on maths and science to an audience of children aged between nine and 13.
The Stem Fair gives young people the chance to experience how those subjects are important in the workplace. It aims to give pupils the motivation to study such subjects at higher levels.
And Johnny said it’s vital that youngsters learn to love the subjects.
‘The whole world is technological now and all our future is based on technology and a greater understanding of it,’ he said.
‘Everything is a science and science is measurement so they have to learn that we have to evaluate things on earth to make sure we can control the world and make it work for us.
‘Their future is so bright.
‘They’ve got to realise that and they’ve got to go for it.’
Pupils from schools across Fareham and Gosport attended, including Alverstoke Juniors, Bedenham Primary and Orchard Lea Juniors.
The lecture looked at the history of maths and showed how it is applicable to science, technology and engineering.
Cath Longhurst, chief executive of the EBP, said: ‘We’re trying to inspire children to get more engaged with science, technology, engineering and maths to be inspired for their future.
‘Johnny was brilliant. The children were so absorbed which was fantastic and his passion and enthusiasm for the subject comes across.
‘We’ve run things like this before and the teachers say that the children come back enthused to learn more. They understand why science is relevant.
‘Children don’t always understand why they are learning these subjects so being able to put it into context is so important.’
The fair, which continues at the college today and tomorrow, is for students aged between nine and 19.
Businesses and industry experts such as the Royal Navy, Eaton Aerospace and Defence Munitions Gosport, were at the college.
It gave them an opportunity to influence young people towards Stem-based careers.
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