Dr Simon Whawell helps to inspire next generation of healthcare professionals

One of our dental experts has been inspiring youngsters to become healthcare professionals through a new gallery at the Eureka! the national children's museum in Halifax, West Yorkshire.

Dr Simon Whawell, Senior Lecturer in the School of Clinical Dentistry, has acted as a scientific advisor on the new £2.9M health and body-themed gallery, lead funded by The Wellcome Trust with a grant donation of £1.45m.

Simon has advised on the Children’s Health Centre section of the new All About Me gallery, helping children to understand different health care professions through role play.

He said: “I’ve been attending monthly gallery development meetings at Eureka for about a year as an external scientific advisor and have been advising on exhibits, especially those in the health centre role play area.

“I’ve also been checking the text that goes alongside exhibits and have 'borrowed' a few things from the Dental School. We have had some fun discussions about wee and poo!”

"It’s been a real pleasure to be involved in such an exciting project, the team at Eureka is very enthusiastic and knowledgeable regarding engagement of children in playful learning, I hope this will inspire the next generation of biomedical scientists and healthcare professionals."

After more than three years of planning and development, All About Me is Eureka!’s largest single gallery redevelopment in their 21 year history. It’s a ‘hands-on, minds on’ gallery – and is designed to get everyone thinking about how their bodies work and how to look after them.

It’s been designed by both children and grown-ups to help visitors enjoy exploring how we’re made, what makes us so special and how some of the everyday things we take for granted – like our nose, our bones and our brains – really work.