Schools outreach by the Cambridge Colleges BioScience Experience project

The Department has been hosting the Cambridge Colleges BioScience Experience over the last few weeks in a bid to inspire the next generation of plant scientists. A total of 92 Year 11 students from comprehensive schools schools across the country have visited us as part of the University's schools outreach work. Dr Katharine Hubbard gave the students a mini-lecture on Food Security, and then led a practical class in the teaching lab, giving the students an opportunity to experience an undergraduate practical class.

A really fun afternoon was had in the lab by all. Students isolated chloroplasts from lettuce leaves, extracted chlorophyll, worked out how big a chloroplast is and investigated how herbicides work. Feedback on the visits was overwhelmingly positive from both students and teachers:

• "Gave a great insight into the Biology of plants"
• "Really fun and nice to use fancy equipment"
• "Incredibly enthusiastic people running the session with a passion that spreads. Loved it!"
• "I found Cambridge enriching. It encouraged students to raise their aspirations"

The Cambridge Colleges BioScience Experience project will interact with 500 students over 2 years, and is funded by the University Widening Participation Project Fund. We look forward to more school visits later in the year.