TWO Oxfordshire scientists have helped create a board game to inspire students to pursue careers in science, technology and maths.

Mark Basham and Claire Murray, who work at the Diamond Light Source lab at Harwell, are launching Diamond - The Game today.

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In the game, school pupils can play at being a scientist such as an oceanologist, chemist or astrobiologist and can take on 36 interdisciplinary scientific projects.

The aim is to give them an insight into what it is actually like to work as in the STEM (Science, Technology and Maths) industries day-to-day – and hopefully inspire them to find out more.

Oxford Mail:

Dr Basham, who works at the Rosalind Franklin Institute at Harwell said: “We want the game to show students the excitement and wide range of opportunities involved in science careers.

"But we also wanted to help schools achieve their mandatory provision and goals for good career guidance – as many are currently struggling to hit their targets for this."

Oxford Mail:

Dr Murray, who is a 'beamline scientist' at Diamond Light Source, added: "Rising costs of public engagement mean that it is harder and harder for us to deliver public engagement activities inclusively across the whole country.

"We came up with the idea of ‘Diamond – the Game’ to provide a cheap, reusable and entertaining way to directly engage students in STEM careers."

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The pair created their game with the help of Dr Matthew Dunstan of Cambridge University and have already won Science and Technology Facilities Council Spark Award.

Schools will be encouraged to apply for a classroom set of Diamond – the Game.