I REMEMBER few of my Religious Studies lessons from school, but one will stand out for years to come.

A monk in full habit came into our class and, as we watched on, slightly unsure what to think, he explained his name was Dave and his favourite food was sausages.

He then removed his "uniform" to reveal jeans and a T-shirt - and a very normal, unmonkly sort of chap - underneath.

My pre-conceived ideas of modern religion disappeared in a flash and I was reminded of that particular "never judge a book by its cover" lesson after students at Malvern Girls' College enjoyed a similar experience.

Tony Ryan, professor of chemistry at the University of Sheffield and head of a major research facility into cutting edge nanotechnology, dropped in for an evening lecture.

If they were being honest, only the most ardent young scientists must have been excited by the prospect, when first they heard of his visit, on Monday, March 14.

But just as Dave blew away my preconceptions about monastic life, so Prof Ryan - or Tony as he asked to be called - shrugged off the image of a traditional chemist.

"Students are really keen to get away from the standard view of science, of lab coats and bubbling test tubes," he said.

"If you can see someone who does science for real on a daily basis, then it can inspire you. I hope to make a few converts as I talk to people."

In Tony's case, "science on a daily basis" ranges from working in Grenoble, France, with the most powerful X-ray machine in Europe, to speaking about his work to 200 locals in a pub in Barnsley.

"There's a swathe of people who are convinced that science does not affect their lives at all because they take all the benefits without thinking at all - they will never be converted," he lamented.

"But students and a great many people - from pub-goers to Women's Institutes - respond really well to hearing about real science."

Where Tony's team are among world-leaders is nanotechnology - basically, the study of very small things, around a millionth of a millimetre in size.

It allows scientists to disassemble materials into their smallest parts and rebuild them to create "better" items.

His latest project has seen him build a synthetic muscle to study the change in concentration of chemicals as it performs different actions.

However, he was quick to point out to students at the college that this was no attempt to create Blade Runner-type cyborgs.

"I'm not trying to build a synthetic life form but understand more about cell biology," he said.

"I am aware of how the media has portrayed this kind of technology but problems start when you try and stop people being inquisitive.

"I'm concerned about the sort of things we develop but what's important is the way discoveries are being used."

One of Tony's many skills is making what is essentially very complicated science come across as fun, simple and relevant to audiences of all ages.

At Malvern Girls' College last week, he explained that nanotechnology is not just for the future, it's available now.

So, where is this multi-billion pound technology scientists like Tony Ryan have been developing?

"Two-in-one shampoo and stain-resistant clothing are the best examples at the moment," he said. "It's also there in medial diagnostics and electronics.

"In the future we will be looking at radios that are printed on to goods and roll up televisions.

"But I don't think we will see the mini-submarines from science-fiction films that go into our bodies and carry out internal repairs - there are fundamental barriers to this sort of development."

I quizzed Prof Ryan on these barriers and was hit with: "Well, it's the second law of thermal dynamics."

I decided to return to the relative safety of two-in-one shampoo.

"The biggest user at the moment is L'Oreal, the cosmetics company," he continued.

"Quality of life benefits are also on the cards, with screening for disease earlier, and environmental benefits are likely with removal of heavy metal waste."

The lecture at the Avenue Road school was open to students and their parents and a mix of slapsticks laughs and fascinating, cutting-edge scientific insight proved a hit.

Not just that, but it dispelled a few preconceptions about science and scientists.

And these moments are what school is all about - experiences and lessons you still remember and talk about 10 years later.

Students' money woes

UNIVERSITY students worry more about their finances than about their studies, according to new research by the Post Office.

Of 983 undergraduates asked, 59 per cent cite finances as being their main worry, followed by work - 29 per cent - and having a good social life, 12 per cent.

This leads to tension in shared households as students squabble over splitting rent and bills, with more than one in 10 claiming cash is their biggest grievance with housemates.

It also found that nearly half of all parents - 44 per cent - contribute towards the rent and bills, but the average student still leaves university owing about £15,000.

Jamie gives MPs food for thought

TONY Blair has bowed to pressure from parents and MPs to take up TV chef Jamie Oliver's proposals for healthier school meals

Ulster Unionist MP David Burnside last week said the star had "done more to improve food standards in this country than the Government and Food Standards Agency put together".

More than 130 MPs - including 86 Labour backbenchers - have already signed a Commons motion backing Mr Oliver's Feed Me Better campaign.

They say they are "appalled" that the average cost of a school meal in the state system is just 35p to 45p - a quarter of what is spent in British prisons.

At the weekend, the Prime Minister announced plans to rebuild school kitchens from scratch and teach catering staff "culinary skills".

In his Channel 4 show Jamie's School Dinners, the celebrity chef has highlighted the poor nutritional value of much of the food served in state schools.