Professor Lord Robert Winston goes back to school

As part of the Research Councils UK (RCUK) school placement scheme, Researchers in Residence (RinR), Professor Lord Robert Winston visited St Bonaventures Catholic Comprehensive School in Newham, East London on Friday 5 November 2010.

Researchers in Residence is a free UK-wide school placement scheme funded by RCUK with support from the Wellcome Trust and is open to all secondary schools and Further Education colleges. The scheme places early career PhD and post-doctoral researchers in schools for placements of up to 24 hours contact time. Researchers come from all subject disciplines and aim to engage young people with contemporary research to stimulate their interest and motivation in learning.

New research from the National Audit Office (NAO) released today (12 November) shows that schools participating in programmes such as Researchers in Residence see a greater increase in the number of students taking sciences at GCSE. The NAO report also shows that schools participating in the RCUK Researchers in Residence scheme see more of the year group achieving grades A to C grades in A Level maths than those schools not participating in a scheme.

Professor Lord Robert Winston commented, “We as researchers have a duty to act as positive role models for young people to help inspire them as they consider their future career options. In this respect it is vitally important to engage with them while they are at school and share experiences. I am pleased to be taking part in the Researchers in Residence scheme which is a wonderful opportunity for researchers like me to involve the younger generation with scientific research.”

The Researchers in Residence scheme has placed over 3,000 researchers into schools over the last 15 years and Lord Winston’s visit will hopefully encourage more researchers to join the scheme that aims to inspire the next generation of bright minds.

Students from three other local schools joined those at St Bonaventures for the day and had the opportunity to hear Lord Winston talk about his inspirational life and career as a research scientist. The day was also filmed by Newton TV as part of a documentary that will be shown on Newton and Teachers TV in January 2011.

St Bonaventure’s School is an all boys’ school situated in the East End of London, an area with high levels of social and economic challenge and an ethnically diverse community. The school has consistently exceeded all national averages and has results that place it well within the top 20% for achievement. One of the reasons for this is the schools commitment to ensuring that the students receive a varied and interesting curriculum, applying their learning to the “real world” and giving the boys access to as wide a range of facilities and facilitators as possible.

Paul Halliwell, Headteacher, commented: “St Bonaventure’s fully supports Researchers in Residence and is excited at the prospect of long-term development of the programme, as we firmly believe that there is huge benefits for our students, for their current study and their future careers. Engaging with this programme will give the students a greater understanding of the role of research in society and in the world of work. This is all further amplified due to the involvement of Professor Lord Robert Winston. We are extremely fortunate to be able to welcome the world renowned scientist to our school, his presence and influence will leave a lasting legacy. This project will greatly impact upon the future life opportunities of our students.”

Professor Alan Thorpe, Chair of RCUK said: “The RCUK Researchers in Residence scheme is an exciting way for researchers to work with schools. RinR enriches the classroom experience and engages young people with real-life research, to raise aspirations and inspire the next generation of researchers. The researchers who take part say they find working with schools a stimulating and rewarding experience, which in turn can benefit their own skills development. Schemes such as this are essential if we are to inspire the next generation of artists, biologists, chemists, scientists, engineers, economists, physicists and more.”

Teachers and researchers interested in getting involved can register at http://www.researchersinresidence.ac.uk

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Further information

Contact:
Jane Wakefield
RCUK Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592

Notes for editors

1. Lord Winston’s visit included a school assembly where he talked about his work as a leading researcher and science communicator and his current role as Professor of Science and Society and Emeritus Professor of Fertility Studies at Imperial College London. He also led a classroom demonstration and practical work about gel electrophoresis, a technique used to separate DNA and RNA.

2. Researchers in Residence, funded by Research Councils UK with support from the Wellcome Trust, brings together PhD and post doctoral researchers, young people and teachers via exciting and innovative placements in secondary schools and colleges across the UK. It is open to researchers directly or indirectly funding by Research Councils UK or the Wellcome Trust. http://www.researchersinresidence.ac.uk

3. Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils. We invest annually around £3 billion in research. Our focus is on excellence with impact. We nurture the highest quality research, as judged by international peer review providing the UK with a competitive advantage. Global research requires we sustain a diversity of funding approaches, fostering international collaborations, and providing access to the best facilities and infrastructure, and locating skilled researchers in stimulating environments. Our research achieves impact – the demonstrable contribution to society and the economy made by knowledge and skilled people. To deliver impact, researchers and businesses need to engage and collaborate with the public, business, government and charitable organisations. www.rcuk.ac.uk

   The seven UK Research Councils are:

   • Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
   • Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
   • Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC);
   • Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
   • Medical Research Council (MRC);
   • Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
   • Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

4. AEA Group (www.aeat.com) is the lead delivery organisation for Researchers in Residence, supported by the Association for Science Education.

5. The Association for Science Education is a dynamic community of teachers, technicians, and other professionals supporting science education and is the largest subject association in the UK. The ASE is an independent and open forum for debate and a powerful force to promote excellence in science teaching and learning, with unique benefits for members.

   For further information please visit www.ase.org.uk

6. More information about the film company Newton can be found at www.newton.tv