Welcome to our Tomorrow's Climate Scientists project. As individual year group investigations progress, information, photo albums, illustrations, reports written by the children, and other content will emerge on these pages. We will also be listing our funders and partners. So be sure to check in occasionally and keep up-to-date.
What is this project?
Partnering with a wide range of local scientists and other experts and linking to the local Nature Recovery Plan, this project is the first step in establishing our pupils as valued young scientists within their community, by enhancing their STEM skills, highlighting their career opportunities and giving them a voice in local environmental issues. The project is supported by the Royal Society, through equipment funding and a mentoring.
When did the project start?
10th January 2025
What is our research question?
How can we increase biodiversity in our village and the surrounding area?
What will we be doing?
Year 1— An aquatic life survey of the school pond, to evaluate the health of the pond and highlight improvements we can make to increase biodiversity.
Year 2—A seaweed survey at Westward-Ho, contributing valuable data to the national Big Seaweed Search database. Creating and populating a cold saltwater tank in the school to observe.
Year 3—A wild flower survey on Northam Burrows, as part of Northam Burrows’ initiative to produce a suitable meadow habitat for the rare Brown Banded Carder Bee. Also looking at ways to support our own school bee population.
Year 4—A one day RSPB bird survey in the school grounds and also taking part in a British Trust for Ornithology pilot for schools, involving regular bird surveys throughout the year. Use of wildlife cameras, siting nesting boxes and feeders.
Year 5—An all-day workshop at Petroc on the theme of innovations in the collection, use and sharing of environmental data. Includes pupils filming their own 360 videos; exploring the data collected in streams and rivers by the North Devon Biosphere’s ‘Smart Biosphere’ initiative; workshop and sounds challenge with Seiche, leading specialists in underwater noise and marine mammal monitoring; learning data collection methods in a Petroc science lab, for use in field studies.
Year 6—A field study of the Pill tidal stream on Northam Burrows, including a survey of aquatic life, wildlife living on the banks and plants. Ph and salinity testing.
All year groups - Links to local community projects, library and museum resources, local environmental organisation events, home activity ideas. A personal journal to record activities. Contributing to an online Appledore i-naturalist page.
Links to individual investigations below
Who will be helping us?
20+ different scientists and organisations, including environmentalist, oceanographer, entomologist, ornithologist—via talks, videos, field work and workshops.
What equipment will we use?
The Royal Society are funding nearly £3,000 of new science equipment for the school. This includes 10 microscopes, professional sweep and kick nets for aquatic surveys, wildlife cameras, saltwater tank and salinity testing equipment.
When does the project end?
It ends in late June 2025 with an exhibition of the pupils work. We have an option from the Royal Society for a second year for the project and the most successful activities could potentially be included in the school curriculum long-term.