Science Project praised by the Royal Society
A science, engineering and mathematics project run by the University of Greenwich and Walderslade Girls’ School in Medway has been highlighted on the Royal Society website.
The climate change themed project was jointly run by Dr Nichola Coleman, senior lecturer in Materials at the University of Greenwich’s School of Science and Susana Tomaz, Head of Science at Walderslade Girls’ School. They were helped by a postgraduate research student from Greenwich, Nina Hughes.
Pupils designed, built and tested a prototype wind turbine that would light an LED light and demonstrate technology which could theoretically be used to build a wind farm to power Walderslade village. They also looked at the best location for wind turbines, how much it would cost and compared it with the large offshore windfarm near Whitstable.
Using recycled materials and solar motors and LEDs, funded by the Royal Society, the pupils also built and tested water turbines and solar powered cars. Students from the school also shared their experience with pupils aged nine and ten at Walderslade Primary.
Dr Nichola Coleman says: “The Royal Society, Medway Council, and the Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Network have highlighted this project as an example for partnerships between higher, secondary and primary education. The aim is to apply scientific skills to real world challenges and promote STEM careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics to girls.”
Dr Coleman and Ms Tomaz are sharing the benefits of the project with other Medway schools by encouraging them to borrow the equipment and teaching materials they created.
The Royal Society is a fellowship of the world's most eminent scientists and is the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.
Notes for Editors
The case study about the students’ efforts is on the Royal Society website: http://royalsociety.org/education/partnership/walderslade-girls/
To find out about studying science at the University of Greenwich’s Medway Campus, please visit www.greenwich.ac.uk, email courseinfo@greenwich.ac.uk or call 020 8331 9000.
Find out more about the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network here: http://www.stemnet.org.uk/
Story by Public Relations
Picture: A wind turbine built by the Walderslade Girls’ School students