Science College Events

Switch On to the
Science of the Thames

Saturday 17^th September saw several students and staff have an early start to their weekend as they waited outside the school gates for a coach to the Tate Modern in London. Not for a tour of the gallery (although there was an opportunity for that as well), but for an inaugural Science event called ‘Switch On to the Science of the Thames’, an event inspired and coordinated by the Science College at Gravesend Grammar School for Girls, in partnership with the Thames Estuary Partnership. The Specialist Schools Trust and the Institute of Physics also supported this event.

With nine other schools across the South East and London regions, teams of year 10 students were treated to hands on workshops, designed and delivered by a wide range of commercial and public bodies from the Thames region. The day was a great success with each team of students experiencing two workshops during the day. Our students enjoyed a workshop on the Archaeology of the Thames, led by the Museum of London Archaeological Society in the morning and tested wind power generators under the direction of RWE nPower in the afternoon.

Early evaluation of the event suggests considerable enthusiasm amongst both the schools and companies to repeat the event next year, perhaps trying to make it larger if a suitable venue and source of funding can be found.