Science students prove the power of communication as competition reaches grand final
The grand final of Tonbridge’s Science Communication Competition saw an all-female line-up of winners, representing a range of schools across the south-east.
More than 100 students entered the first stage of the competition earlier in the year, and from these just 22 made it through to the final, which took place in the Barton Science Centre on Wednesday (10 May).
The competition, now in its second year, set students the challenge of explaining their research and ideas enthusiastically and clearly, in a way that would interest and inspire a class of Year 9 students.
The judging panel included Head Judge Dr Alex Ball, Head of Imaging and Analysis, The Natural History Museum, and Sarah Bisby, Teacher of Chemistry and Science, and STEM Co-Ordinator, Tonbridge Grammar School.
Tonbridge’s own judges were Nick Waite, Head of Science; Lisa Alford, Science Coordinator; and Lower Sixth student Isaac King (CH4), Science Ambassador.
There were two categories, Under 16s and 17s to 19s, with full results shown below. The first prize for the Under 16s went to Chang Lui from Caterham School with her confident and informative talk on ‘The Expansion of the Universe’.
The top prize in the older section was awarded to Lara Fox from Woldingham School for an enjoyable and intriguing presentation on ‘The Secret World of Genes: Epigenetics’.
Dr Alex Ball handed out prizes of book tokens and presented all finalists with certificates.
Lisa Alford, the School’s Science Coordinator, said: “It is truly fantastic to have witnessed an all-female line-up of winners. This achievement not only highlights the exceptional talent and capabilities of these young women, but also demonstrates the progress we are making towards gender equality in the field of science communication.
“It is a proud moment for all of us and a clear indication that empowering and encouraging girls in STEM fields is yielding remarkable results. Congratulations to the winners, and may their success inspire many more young girls to pursue their passions in science communication.”
Nick Waite, Head of Science, added: “The quality of talks was outstanding and my congratulations to all the finalists. They delivered engaging, informative and thought-provoking presentations that made it difficult for the judges to separate them.”
Winners:
Under 16s:
1st: Chang Lui, Caterham School: ‘The Expansion of the Universe’.
2nd: Sophie Cramp, Weald of Kent School: ‘The Real Life Tractor Beam’.
3rd: Ishika De, The Judd School: ‘Immortality in Real Life’.
17s to 19s:
1st: Lara Fox, Woldingham School: ‘The Secret World of Genes: Epigenetics’.
2nd: Isabella Fallon, Tonbridge Grammar School: ‘Parasites: Pests or Partners?’.
3rd: Alison Ng, Woldingham School: ‘Virtual to Reality: Revolutionising Healthcare Training with the help of Robotic Simulators’.
