Internationally renowned academic and metaphysical magician Todd Landmann will be wowing local youngsters who take part in a special quiz next month.

Dr Landmann, human rights expert by day and metaphysical magician by night, will be celebrity question master and entertainer at the social science quiz which is being organised by the University’s prestigious UK Data Archive as part of the national Festival of Social Science. The Festival is a week long programme of events that celebrate some of the best British social science research and which show what a difference it makes to people’s lives.

Around sixty pupils from local schools and sixth forms will take part in the quiz, which is being held at the University’s Colchester Campus on March 16. Thanks to funding for the event from the Economic and Social Research Council, the winning teams will be presented with prizes of between £300 and £50 for their school or college. They will also have an opportunity to tour the campus with a current Essex student to find out a bit more about student life.

Organiser Jo Weatherall said: ‘This really does promise to be a very exciting and fun-packed day. It’s an opportunity to remind potential local students of the significance of the Social Sciences and that Essex is the top university in the UK for Social Science research.’ The event is mainly targeted at sixth form students and any school interested in taking part can email help@census.ac.uk or call 01206 872013 to find out more.

A further 60 students from Colchester Sixth Form College will be attending interactive workshops organised by the University’s Institute for Social and Economic Research on March 18 to learn about the importance of social surveys. As well as finding out about how surveys work, the students will get some hands on experience of carrying out a survey and have the opportunity to meet and talk to younger researchers working in the field. The event is also part of the Festival of Social Science.