News - Schools Celebrate Science
University of Exeter press release
Cornwall's school children will be exploring a mine, dissecting owl pellets and harnessing energy from the sun: all in the name of science. National Science and Engineering Week comes to the University of Exeter's Tremough Campus, Penryn, with a packed programme of events on 11 March.
Pupils from five Cornish secondary schools are booked to attend 11 different events. Some will have the opportunity to use state-of-the-art surveying and mineral analysis equipment, used by the University's Camborne School of Mines. Others will have the chance to go underground, by visiting the University's test mine. Some pupils will put their knowledge of the animal kingdom to the test at a zoology quiz, while others will be dissecting owl pellets to find out what featured in last night's menu.
Children will also discover how University research is furthering our understanding of subjects like climate change, renewable energy and zoology. Everyone will have the chance to experience science in one of the UK's top 20 universities.
Professor Matthew Evans, Provost of the University of Exeter's Cornwall Campus (Tremough) said: "In National Science and Engineering Week we will be showcasing the amazing wealth of opportunities now available to young people who want to study science and engineering subjects in Cornwall. Our research in areas like climate change, renewable energy and biology is world-class and we are delighted to have the opportunity to share our knowledge and facilities with local schools. The events promise to be inspiring and great fun."
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: "Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics -STEM skills- are highlighted in Lord Sainsbury's report "Race to the Top" as being key to retaining innovation, enterprise and higher paid job opportunities here in the UK. And the same is true for the Cornish economy in the coming decades. I welcome Tremough's initiative in introducing our children to the wonders of science and engineering and that it's 'cool' to aspire to these careers."
The events are part of National Science and Engineering Week - a ten-day celebration of science and engineering happening all around the UK from 6-15 March. For full details on the University of Exeter's National Science and Engineering Week events: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/scienceweek
The £100 million Tremough Campus is a Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative -of which the University of Exeter and University College Falmouth are two of the founding partners. It is funded mainly by the European Union (Objective One), the South West Regional Development Agency, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, with support from Cornwall County Council. Set in 70 acres of countryside, but close to the waterside towns of Penryn and Falmouth, the campus offers a lively student community. The University of Exeter now offers degrees in Biology, Modern Celtic and Cornish Studies, English, Geology, Geography, History, Law, Mining Engineering, Politics and Renewable Energy on its Tremough Campus, which has expanded rapidly as part of the Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative.