'This is an amazing and inspiring opportunity for our pupils'

HOW science could help create football stars is being explored by youngsters at an international astronomy conference in the North East.

- TONY HENDERSON

Around 1,000 scientists are attending the Royal Astronomical Society's (RAS) annual National Astronomy Meeting 2025 (NAM) at Durham University throughout this week.

Astronomers, cosmologists, particle physicists, engineers and mathematicians are presenting the latest in space research, with activities throughout the week for primary and secondary school children, youth groups and the wider public.

Pupils from Catchgate Primary, Stanley, are exploring the physics behind football through the Stargoal Project, developed with Durham University Astronomy and Sport, Education Durham and Durham Women's Football Club.

The project has seen pupils work with Durham scientists in the classroom and on the pitch on the part played in football by gravity, statistics and strategy in scoring penalties and the use of data in analysing how teams and individual players have performed.

Associate professor Alis Deason, who studies the Milky Way galaxy, said: “There is a lot of physics and science in football and being an astronomer is very useful in understanding football.”

Project lead Alis and astronomer Sownak Bose took youngsters on to the field to see how gravity affects the flight of the ball.