Exhibition by Ashington schoolchildren drawing to a close

Time is running out to see an interactive exhibition based on the North East’s experience of coronavirus and what it’s been like for people in our communities to ‘live through history’.
Staff help set up the ‘Pan@NCEA’ exhibition.Staff help set up the ‘Pan@NCEA’ exhibition.
Staff help set up the ‘Pan@NCEA’ exhibition.

Created by students at Duke’s Secondary School in Ashington, the ‘Pan@NCEA’ project tells the story of the pandemic; the different stages experienced and how these experiences have varied from person to person and place to place.

The whole school has been involved in aspects of the project, from taking part in activities during science lessons and tutor time to the physical construction of the exhibition itself.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Comprising three large art installations to visually represent the three scientific stages of the pandemic from its discovery back in December 2019 through to the present day and the rollout of the vaccine, the exhibition also features audio visual elements including sound recordings of students and contacts from around the world.

Children prepare their work at the ‘Pan@NCEA’ exhibition.Children prepare their work at the ‘Pan@NCEA’ exhibition.
Children prepare their work at the ‘Pan@NCEA’ exhibition.

Interactive activities on offer include real-life X-rays to show healthy lungs versus lungs infected by Covid-19, an experiment to demonstrate how the lateral flow test works and the specificity of the vaccine and a very special Covid-19 virus DNA model.

Dr Jodi Harrison, Academic Mentor at Duke’s Secondary School, said: “The students threw themselves into the challenge and worked incredibly hard to create something which is truly reflective of not just their own experience of coronavirus, but of the experience of our communities as a collective.”

The exhibition is now at the Newbiggin Maritime Centre until September 4, culminating in a very special display at Newcastle Cathedral on Sunday, September 19.