London NERC Summer School July 2024

The London NERC Summer School, fully funded by the National Environment Research Council through the London NERC DTP, gave more than 70 pupils from nine schools aged 15-17 an insight into a wide range of topics available to experience in Environmental Science. 

The London NERC Summer School recruited from schools across the London Boroughs to provide a unique opportunity for those who may not usually engage with Environmental Science or may not have access to such opportunities (i.e., working-class pupils, pupils who are members of the Global Majority). 

Environmental Sciences are one of the least racially diverse fields in education and professional careers, whilst London is amongst the most racially diverse region in the world. The London NERC DTP brings together several institutions, providing an excellent opportunity to tackle this. 

The London NERC Summer School aimed to engage pupils from working-class and racially marginalised backgrounds by working with artists, scientists, educators, and activists to generate bespoke content of interest to young people while providing information on opportunities in Environmental Science.

Uncovering Earth’s Secrets: How Mud, Plants, and Fossils Shape Our World

Watch as Dan, Laura, and Mollie from NERC DTP showcase how tiny details, like ocean sediments, everyday plants, and ancient fossils, reveal big stories about our planet.

Day One was at the Institute of Zoology, where pupils engaged with activities centred around Environmental Justice, Science policy, and Biodiversity. They also had the chance to explore the Zoo during the day and interact with Colobus monkeys at the London Zoo’s Monkey Valley. 

Day Two was hosted at UCL, focusing on how tiny things can have a giant impact on the planet. For example, how certain microfossils in the ocean produce enormous amounts of oxygen and also glow in the dark. 

Day Three was hosted by the Natural History Museum, where pupils explored how biodiversity changes are observed and how this impacts health through data observation, collection, analysis, and communication. 

The response was incredibly encouraging, with several pupils telling us the course had shown them just how much they could study and engage with. That none of the pupils had ever had similar experiences before shows the importance of early intervention when encouraging people to engage people with Environmental Science.