A NEW initiative aimed at getting more students 'fired up' about science has been launched at a Dorchester school.

The Thomas Hardye School, in partnership with the award-winning Science Made Simple team from Cardiff, is piloting the innovative Science Communicator in Residence scheme.

Pupils will perform practical experiments and create short science films during the project, which culminates in July with a public performance of a science and arts extravaganza called Visualise.

The school has launched the initiative as part of its continued role as a Specialist Science College.

Science Made Simple director Wendy Sadler will be working with the school - and others in Dorchester and Weymouth - to find new ways of getting students interested in science. Pupils will be trained as science presenters and journalists, and the films they create will be submitted for websites including Films for Learning and YouTube.

Visualise, the scheme's grand finale, will feature science phenomena set to music and film and - unlike any other science lecture - will contain no words.

Mrs Sadler said: "We're very excited about this new initiative.

"This gives us a unique chance to spend time with the schools and develop a programme of activities to get the students really fired up about science."