Miss England and medicine student Carina Tyrrell has told how "impressed" she was with the National Space Centre.
The 25-year-old and her physicist father, Mark Tyrell, visited the centre today.
"It's a really great place," said Carina, who was in who was in her fifth year of medicine at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge when she won the title of Miss England.
"A particular highlight for me was the Planetarium, it really makes you feel like you're there."
The pair were taken on a tour round the centre, exploring all of the facilities on offer.
"I've always loved science and I've grown up around physics because of my dad," added Carina.
"Science is constantly changing and people are always discovering new things, it's fantastic."
Carina said that she feels it is "imperative" that children are taught about science.
"Everything is based around science," she said.
"And you can apply the methods of science to anything in life.
"It is so important for children to be encouraged to take an interest in science and places like the centre do just that."
Carina says she tries to incorporate her passion for science with her title of Miss England as much as possible.
She and her father are hoping to soon present a lecture at the National Space Centre for young people.
