A FESTIVAL took children back in time for an exploration of science throughout the ages.

About 700 people attended The Iris Festival of Ancient and Modern Science at Cheney School in Headington this month.

The event, opened by Professor Robert Winston, included an erupting model volcano, a live demonstration of Roman surgery and some lessons from a plague doctor.

Founder of the Iris Project Dr Lorna Robinson said this year’s festival was the biggest yet.

She added: "We’ve had a lot of really positive feedback from people saying they really enjoyed themselves, and that’s what the festival is about: being fun and educational.

"We had organisations running 38 different stalls to show science throughout the ages. We had someone dressed as a plague doctor which was really quite striking.

"We also had the Department of Earth Sciences talking about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, using a model of an erupting volcano."

The event was a celebration of ancient and modern science and the connections between the two. Areas of the school were themed on different areas of scientific understanding.

One of the stalls was run by the Oxford Department of Genetics, who explored the development of embryos, and referenced Aristotle in their activities. They brought a 3D printer which printed hearts.

The Oxford Department of Oncology explored attitudes towards cancer through the ages, and Science Oxford put on a 'Medical Marvels' workshop where visitors were able to choose how to treat casualties from a range of ancient and modern treatments.

There was also an outdoor bird demonstration with the Edwards Grey Institute of Ornithology, and stargazing with Professor Allan Chapman.

The festival was opened by scientist and television presenter Mr Winston, who then spent an hour and a half taking in what the event had to offer.

Dr Robinson said: "He was fantastic. After his opening speech he spoke to loads of people and saw the stalls and spent a while walking around. He even saw a room in the school in which a group of children were pretending to be ancient scientists."

Each year The Iris Project presents a festival with a different theme. Previously, the event has been named the Festival of Ancient Tales, which included a visit by poet Carol Ann Duffy, and the Festival of Lost Cities, at which guests were given a passport to 'travel' to ancient lands.

The Iris Project was established to encourage children in state schools to learn about classical languages and culture.

The project has been running a classics centre at Cheney School since October 2013.