The CREST awards scheme is the only nationally recognised accreditation scheme for STEM project work in primary and secondary schools. Students work independently or in groups and, through their own investigative work and enquiry-based research, obtain ‘real-life’ experience of being a scientist, driving their own project forward. The projects are all externally assessed by experts from industry, academia or the education sector.
Congratulations go to Alina and Mika (Year 12) who have been awarded Silver for their own CREST project, which they started during GHL and successfully completed at the beginning of the school year. The project, entitled “21st Century Clocks: Calculating Time through Astronomy”, was thoughtfully and insightfully put together and involved researching the different styles of astrolabe, looking at the origins of this over time, and using this information to make their own astrolabe from different types of material.
Visits to the Oxford Physics Department and the History of Science Museum helped steer the project in the right direction, and highlighted the importance of Astronomy and its impact on the wider world, cementing the girls’ own passion for the subject. Their practical work was undertaken at such a restricted time and they showed a keen flexibility in their approach, being able to adapt successfully to the different circumstances as the year progressed. This was a superbly innovative project and deserving of its Silver award.