BOHUNT School students played a part in the launch of a national charitable trust promoting science and engineering research in schools.

The Institute for Research in Schools (IRIS) event took place at the Science Museum in London earlier this month.

Bohunt is already working with IRIS and pupils were on hand to demonstrate current projects and talk about the experience of contributing to authentic cutting edge research.

Last summer 12 students spent three weeks in Greenland researching radiation in partnership with the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN). They climbed peaks to get height transects, camped on glaciers to see if the surface conditions made a difference to readings and ran away from a polar bear den.

Students presented their expedition research at a symposium in London and gave a talk at the opening of the Royal Geographical Society’s Explore Conference.

Bohunt headteacher Neil Strowger said: “The conditions on the expedition, the scientific aims and the financial commitments proved really challenging to the students. However, their determination, their positive attitude and our high expectations of them have meant that they had incredible experiences in the Arctic. These expeditions have given our students a chance to develop their resilience and be inspired by high level science. They are now confident leaders and inspired scientists who stand out and have ambition.”

Partnering with universities and industry, IRIS aims to provide more opportunities and support like this to schools nationwide. The institute will nurture and develop young people’s interest in research in order to increase the uptake of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects in sixth forms and at university.