The Day at a Glance

On 17 May 2025, the University of Leeds campus buzzed with excitement as the Be Curious family science day unfolded which is an annual celebration of discovery that brings research to life for the public through interactive activities, hands-on demonstrations, and fun for all ages. Among the many engaging stalls, our team of three Uni Leeds MISSION-CCS doctoral researchers Sumia Manzoor, Rithuparna Rajesh and myself (Sakib) from the School of Mechanical Engineering joined forces with Prof. Dr. Richard Barker to showcase how Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) works in practice.

As part of the MISSION-CCS Doctoral Training Network, our research focuses on the next generation of sustainable carbon capture solutions. For Be Curious, we translated this complex system into something children (and adults) could understand, enjoy, and remember. Using simple yet eye-catching stuff like marble runs, magnetic balls, jars, and a little creativity, we built a lively demonstration that turned the CCS chain into an accessible story of “capture, transport, and storage.”

Figure 1. From Marbles to Molecules: Kids Discover the CCS Chain

The Concept: Teaching CCS Through Play

Our objective was clear: demystify CCS by translating each phase into a tactile, memorable activity. We turned abstract concepts into engaging play that kids loved.

• Capture: A jar brimming with ordinary and magnetic marbles symbolized a mix of CO₂ molecules and other components within industrial flue gases. Children used a long handheld magnet to separate the "magnetic CO₂" marbles, thus, emphasizing the idea of capturing targeted molecules.
• Transport & Storage: The separated marbles representing CO₂ then rolled through two sets of long marble runs, representing how CO₂ is transported and initially stored in pipelines or transit channels.
• Reservoir: Finally, the marbles found their way into a final box that represented the underground reservoir where CO₂ is stored long-term.
• A colorful poster at the stall that helped to translate these playful phases into the real industrial CCS process, thus, linking play with science.

Crowd Magnet: Why It Was a Hit

Between our interactive display and the sweet reward, our stall became a magnet for enthusiastic attention throughout the day. From the moment the event began until the final minutes, we had a constant stream of children, parents, and families gathered around the marble runs, eager to take part in the activity. The simplicity of separating “CO₂ molecules” and watching them roll through the colorful runs made the science behind CCS instantly relatable.

For us, it was just as rewarding to see the smiles and curiosity on the children’s faces as it was to explain the bigger picture to the adults. We loved the opportunity to portray what we do as researchers and to highlight the importance of Carbon Capture and Storage in the fight against climate change. Most importantly, the event gave us a chance to spread the broader motive of the MISSION-CCS project, working together across Europe to create innovative solutions for a more sustainable, net-zero future.

 

Teamwork & Preparation

What made this demonstration extra special was the team effort. Together with Prof. Barker, we meticulously planned, ordered, and assembled the setup from marbles and magnets to the marble runs and display materials. Setting everything up was just as enjoyable as the event itself, and we really felt the teamwork throughout.