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10 June 2009

Gold science award for Lochgelly pupil

17-year-old Gwendolyn Andoh-Kesson, a sixth-year pupil at Lochgelly High School, won the Gold Science award at the 2009 Scottish CREST Awards at the University of Dundee today (Wed June 10th).

Gwendolyn, who is from Ghana, won the award for her project `The effect of calcium on monoamine oxidase-A activity'. She won £100 for her school and a place at the Big Bang 2010 in Manchester, the UK's biggest celebration of science and engineering.

Gwendolyn is due to start studying for a pharmacy degree at Robert Gordon University in the autumn.

Budding young scientists, engineers and technologists from schools across Scotland were showing off their latest projects at the University of Dundee on Wednesday June 10th.

Over 150 pupils from sixteen schools, drawn from all over Scotland, took part in the Scottish CREST (CREativity in Science & Technology) and Researchers-In-Residence joint conference. Pupils displayed a wide range of table-top projects and gave a series of presentations.

All the school pupils have been working on their projects throughout the past year, some alongside leading science and technology researchers.

'The University of Dundee is excited to again be hosting this year's CREST / Researchers in Residence conference,' said Professor Anne Anderson, Vice Principal of the University and Head of the College of Art, Science and Engineering, which is hosting the event.

'Promoting science, engineering and technology in schools is essential for Scotland's economic growth and this initiative of encouraging scientific investigation by school pupils, in many cases supported by University researchers, is key. We are happy to welcome all the pupils, and their teachers and parents, to the University and give them the opportunity to showcase their project work in the world class facilities of the Dalhousie teaching facility.'

The CREST (CREativity in Science & Technology) Awards Scheme is a national accreditation scheme, run by the British Science Association for pupils aged 11-19, which promotes work-related learning and enables students to develop key skills for use in the ‘real world’.

The scheme is designed to recognise achievement in science and technology through a practical and problem-solving approach. The awards acknowledge and certificate pupils’ achievements for practical, investigative and experimental work as well as their communication skills and can be applied across the range of scientific and technological subject areas.

Researchers in Residence (RinR) is a programme which places researchers in schools, giving pupils access to the people leading cutting-edge research at universities and other institutions.

The scheme allows the researchers to work with young people, to communicate why their research is relevant and exciting and to allow both researchers and students to gain valuable skills, confidence and experience.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Schools taking part in the event were:

  • Alford Academy
  • Arbroath High School
  • Auchterhouse Primary School
  • Dollar Academy
  • George Heriot's School
  • Grove Academy
  • Hutchesons' Grammar School
  • Jordanhill School
  • Leith Academy
  • Lenzie Academy
  • Lochgelly High School
  • Merchiston Castle School
  • Perth Academy
  • Selkirk High SChool
  • Smithycroft Secondary School
  • The Glasgow Academy

Winners at the CREST Awards today were:

GOLD science - Lochgelly High School

GOLD technology - Merchiston Castle School

SILVER science - Hutchesons Grammar School

SILVER science - Dollar Academy

SILVER technology - Alford Academy

BRONZE science - Lenzie Academy

BRONZE science - Hutchesons Grammar School

BRONZE technology - Dollar Academy


For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isle
Head, Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk