Science Masterclass to be presented to local students

Staff at Cefas (The Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science) will be presenting a science master class to an invited audience of local sixth-form students in Lowestoft on Thursday 12 February.

The forum enables Cefas scientists to showcase the breadth of their work to budding young scientists. The event is also being used to announce Cefas’ new Science Student Partnership to first-year sixth-formers in the area.

Ten science students and teacher representatives from each of five high schools in the Waveney District – Benjamin Britten, Bungay, Denes, Kirkley, and Sir John Leman High Schools – have been invited to the master class at the Lowestoft laboratory.

The students will attend research and development presentations on work being done by Cefas scientists. Coastal erosion and cod fish stocks research will be two of the themes covered. After lunch the students will be invited to participate in brainstorming sessions centred on such real-life science problems.

Cefas hopes that the master class and the Partnership initiative will provide meaningful experience of working in a science environment. Both enable students to prove their involvement with applied science and will be useful when applying for university placements.

Notes to editors

1. Cefas is an internationally renowned scientific research and advisory establishment, based at Lowestoft since 1902. It became an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (formerly MAFF) in 1997.
2. Cefas undertakes work on fisheries management, environmental protection and aquaculture. It offers a wide range of research, advisory, consultancy, monitoring and training activities to government departments (UK and foreign, central and local), international agencies, commercial companies and aid organisations.
3. The Science Student Partnership is a new initiative devised by Cefas. It is aimed at the best and brightest second-year sixth-form science students in the Norfolk and Suffolk region.
4. Students will be invited to apply for just two Partnerships, and Cefas scientists will interview the applicants. The chosen students will take up their places in September 2004. Students will be expected to commit to one half-day per week during their final academic year. They will be given real scientific work to do and will be mentored by Cefas scientists, who will report progress to the students’ school tutors. At the end of the academic year the students will be awarded book tokens and/or cash to put towards specific university course material or books.
5. Photo opportunities are limited. Cefas will supply digital images after the event (if required). Contact for digital images is David Riches 01502 524377

Press contact: Anne McClarnon 01502 524370 / anne.mcclarnon@cefas.co.uk