"We hope that the enthusiasm that the students have demonstrated for biology in their
project presentations will be further stimulated by their day with us. We may well be
meeting with famous scientists of the future."
Budding scientists from five secondary schools throughout Scotland hope to show top researchers at the University of Dundee a thing or two in the 4th annual Scottish CREST (CREativity in Science and Technology) Awards scheme being held at the University on Tuesday 24 April.
The students will be invited to tour the £14 million Wellcome Trust Biocentre which houses over 250 scientists including international award winners, Professor Sir Philip Cohen and Professor Peter Downes.
Dr Martyn Ward, Associate Dean, Faculty of Science and Engineering will welcome the students and Mr Gordon Shanks, director of SATRO (Science and Technology Regional Organisation) North Scotland, who organised the event, will ask the students to give a short presentation about their displays.
"There are two categories at this year's awards. The Astra Zeneca Life Science programme category, which aims to encourage student interest in bioscience and the Environmental Research Challenge, which aims to involve young people as researchers in projects linked to their local environment," explains Dr Martyn Ward.
"We hope that the enthusiasm that the students have demonstrated for biology in their
project presentations will be further stimulated by their day with us. We may well be
meeting with famous scientists of the future."
The students will have the opportunity to discuss their work with a panel of judges which includes scientists from The School of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee, which has an international reputation for excellence in teaching and research in the biological and biomedical sciences. The winners in each category will go forward to the UK finals to be held in London later in the year.
The winners of the CREST Awards 2001 were:
ASTRA Zeneca Life Sciences category
Gold - Michael Rolanski from Lenzie Academy for his project 'Star Trek Medicine'
Silver - Gordon Buchanan, Shruti Chituis, Alistair Connell and Rachel Connell from
Hutchisons Grammar for their project Natural Born Killers.
Environmental Research Challenge
Silver - Peter Cashmore, Banchory Academy, for his project River Water Analysis
Bronze - Stephen Collins and Steven Williams from Lenzie Academy for their project
Paper Making.
The Bill Bryce Award for the project which best fulfilled the spirit of the Crest Awards went to Hannah Gordon, Moray Nutman, Thomas Reid and Hollie Wilkinson from Grantown Grammar for their project, Natural Dyes and Indicators.