HIGH-FLYING science graduates will be looking for a reaction in Didcot as they try to raise the public's awareness of science.

Didcot First, an organisation which aims to promote the town positively, believes the town is unusual in the UK as it is surrounded by science and technology companies at Harwell, Culham and Milton Park.

It has engaged the help of three science graduates working with the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency, Susan Elder, Steve Mahay and James Forde, to make the public aware of the area's scientific heritage and to boost the profile of science in the town. The graduates, all in their 20s, will devote ten per cent of their time over the next three months to help the organisation engage the public in science.

Di Chesterman, of Didcot First, said: "We believe that members of the public are relatively unaware of the internationally important science that is happening within our community.

"We have made an undertaking to challenge this and help bring everyone up to speed with the local activities that are causing the rest of the world to look to us for information, results, new processes and products that will influence the answers to some of the greatest problems that face the human race and the planet Earth."

Hands-on science events, a sci-fi season at the town's Cineworld cinema and performances at the Cornerstone arts centre could soon be on the agenda and work has already begun on creating a science brochure for every home in Didcot.

Anyone with ideas should contact Didcot First via the website: www.didcotfirst.org.uk.