Working out how we work things out: students in a workshop at Environment & Sustainability Day. Image by David Edmonds Commercial Photography.

Environment & Sustainability Day

Just under 100 Year 10 students recently took part in a range of activities and workshops at the ESI; the pupils came from nine Cornish schools to join in our second annual Environment & Sustainability Day.

They heard about dolphins, animal waste and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), learned about solar power and thermal imagery, debated badgers and bovine tuberculosis and investigated how we make connections and calculate risk.

A teacher from Camborne Science and International Academy said: “Great day, very much inspired my students. Developing closer links with the ESI is of genuine interest to me and the prospect of involving students with research is an exciting one.”

Another member of staff, from Treviglas School in Newquay, commented: “Another excellent day from the ESI! Lots of interesting workshops.” A third, from Hayle Community College, added: “A very well organised and delivered day of workshops and activities. The students were ‘buzzing’. Lots of relevant information and food for thought. Staff and ambassadors were friendly and helpful.”

In the two years since we officially opened, in April 2013, the ESI has become home to over 100 academics, researchers, technicians and professional support staff, raising over £16 million in research income, working with over 450 local businesses and publishing scores of papers which have established our position at the forefront of environmental research.

The ESI’s Director, Professor Kevin J Gaston, said: “Our hope is that days like this will help inspire children to consider a career in research, and that one day they might follow in the footsteps of the many world-leading academics who have made Cornwall, and the ESI, their home.”

The ESI is committed to fostering links with local schools via its Teacher Affiliate Programme, which aims to produce materials for classroom use, to see more formal links between teachers and researchers, and to create more visits by and to schools.

Date: 25 March 2015