Science resources have changed significantly since Hilary Johnson went to school.

'Technology's made a huge difference,” says Katikati College's assistant head of science. 'I can remember we had black and white textbooks, and that was about it.”

Katikati College Year 8 science students Monika Ross, 13, Rivah Somerville, 12, Sharna Radford, 12, Joshua Macdonald, 13, Jared Snowball-Boyes, 13, and Rylee Jeffrey, 12. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Nowadays, children have animations and three-dimensional simulations to study science. 'But we still use bunsen burners just like I used to when I was a little girl,” says Hilary.

'That's what they all want to do in Year 7 – learn how to light a bunsen burner. The next hopeful question being ‘can we blow something up?'”

The Science Road Show gives children the opportunity to explore various science and technology concepts in an 80-minute roadshow using resources way beyond the bunsen burner.

Travelling to schools nationwide, The Science Roadshow makes its first stop of its Bay of Plenty leg to Katikati College on Wednesday (August 5).

Hilary says the roadshow visits the college every two years. This year's theme is ‘Sparks, Arks and Gherkins'. Gherkins?

'I presume they're going to do an experiment that I've only ever seen on the internet,” she says, 'where you plug a gherkin into the mains and it glows. They're very conductive with all the vinegar in them.”

A second show visits the theme of ‘Wonderful Water'.

A science graduate from Massey University, Hilary has been teaching science at the college for 12 years and says the school has a very good track record with its science students.

'We traditionally do very well at the regional science fairs,” she explains.

'We're quite strong. I think the fact we teach proper science with proper science teachers and science labs from Year 7 onwards is a huge advantage. Most pupils don't do it until Year 9.”

Bunsen burners or not, Hilary says science should be fun.

'I think for Year 7-8s, science should be about fun and about lots of discovery,” she says.

'That's what I like about the roadshow. The children can touch everything, try everything out and ask lots of questions in a very safe and fun environment.”

The Science Road Show visits Katikati College on August 5, Mount Maunganui College on August 6-7, Greenpark School on August 10 and Bethlehem College on August 11.