I and many other members of our department are participating in the Science and Engineering Ambassador (SEA) scheme run by the SET-POINT in Oxford. Through this scheme, we visit local schools to give talks and organize hands on activities for children to engage and inspire them for studying science subjects.
Photo: A typical school visit. My colleague, Dr Louise Thomas, talking to children about the rock cycle.
Ms Elisabeth Muller, a Bedford High School student, conducted her six-week, Nuffield Bursary-funded project in our laboratry in the summer of 2007.
Her project which included analysing the mineralogy of a lunar meteorite, MIL 05035, has opened doors for her after she won two amazing awards at the prestigious UK Young Scientists' and Engineers' Fair organised by the BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) and held at the Centre of the Cell in London on 7 March, 2008). Not only will Elisabeth now get to represent the UK at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists in Copenhagen, alongside two other winners from the Fair, but she has also secured a place on once-in-a-lifetime voyage on a research ship from New Zealand to the sub-Antarctic Islands.
After the Young Scientists' and Engineers' Fair she said: 'I was shell-shocked when I heard my name called - I actually tripped down the stairs! I plan to study Geology when I go to university in September and I'm particularly excited about the trip to the sub-Antarctic because as a geologist I love fieldwork. I can't wait!'
We are delighted to hear about Elisabeth's success and I am particularly pleased that by being a Science and Engineering Ambassador, I was able to know about the Nuffield Bursary Scheme and host Elisabeth at the OU. The time Elisabeth spent at the OU clearly played a major role in motivating her to pursue higher education in which I have no doubt she will be even more successful.
Sir David King, President of the BA said: 'The achievement of the young people who gain these prizes is not just winning an exciting trip or a handsome trophy. In completing their projects they have been able to work like real scientists and engineers, and to find out for themselves how enjoyable and rewarding that can be. It is terrific to see this all come together at the Fair and I hope that many more young people will have this opportunity in the future.'
To read more on this story follow the link below.
Ms Zoe Amos, a Bedford High School student, will be carrying out a summer project analysing newly discovered Martian meteorites from Antarctica. Her project will generate new mineralogical data on Martian rocks and will improve our knowledge and understanding of the diversity of rock types that occur on Mars (till date, only about 50 distinct rock sampels from Mars are present in our collections in terms of meteorites and Zoe will be working on two of these!).
