Materials scientists and engineers from Queen Mary's School of Engineering and Materials Science (SEMS) engaged students at Schools' Day at the New Scientist Live Event at London's ExCeL Centre.

Schools' Day welcomes over 6,000 students with thought-provoking talks, ground-breaking discoveries, interactive experiences and hands-on activities.

Representing Discover Materials, Queen Mary joined forces with Imperial to showcase hands-on activities with a huge range of materials. Students could explore materials mimicking superhydrophobic lotus leaves, or the grip of gecko feet. They could watch a thermochromic fluid turn purple under UV light and discover how polarisers and liquid crystals work in displays. They could even draw and test graphene electronic circuits.

Events like this are important to raise awareness of the extent to which science and engineering influences our lives and to inspire the next generation to take on science and engineering challenges.