Wellcome Trust's Darwin200 projects showcased at the House of Commons
13 March 2009
Minister for Schools and Learners, the Rt Hon Jim Knight MP, hosted a morning reception at the House of Commons, where a number of MPs and peers came to see 'The Great Plant Hunt' and 'Survival Rivals' in action. The two projects are part of the Wellcome Trust's mission to deliver a free Darwin-inspired experiment to every child in the country.
Sir Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust, said: "We are delighted to be working with schools to provide opportunities for children to learn about evolution and natural selection through practical experimentation. What could be a better way to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin than to enthuse the next generation about science and teach them about scientific method?"
The Trust invited Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew), to develop an ambitious science project for primary schools. RBG Kew created 'The Great Plant Hunt', which aims to jump-start a lifetime's interest in plant-based science in every child in the country. All 23 000 state primary schools in the UK will receive a free Great Plant Hunt treasure chest this month, inspiring teachers and pupils alike to follow in Darwin's footsteps.
For secondary schools, the Trust developed a range of practical science kits that explore contemporary applications of evolutionary theory and natural selection. 'I'm a Worm Get Me Out of Here', 'Brine Date' and 'The X-Bacteria' are fun, engaging experiments that students can do themselves. Schools can order the kits from the Survival Rivals website, which also has games, interactives and resources to support the classroom activities.
Sir William Castell, Chairman of the Wellcome Trust, said: "The beauty of Darwin's work is that he made insightful observations and did simple, elegant experiments, and from these he was able to come up with a theory that changed our view of the world forever. If we can instil a genuine feel for science in children from an early age, they will grow up to make the astounding discoveries of the future."
In Darwin200, the Wellcome Trust is supporting creative projects across the education and cultural sectors to make sure Darwin's science comes to life for as many people as possible. These projects will celebrate Darwin's life, work and ongoing impact with audiences up and down the country throughout 2009.
Image:
Caption: Rt Hon Jim Knight MP, Minister for Schools and Learners, and Sir Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust, address an audience of MPs at the House of Commons
Credit: Wellcome Images