Release Date: 02/05/2008
Borough school pupils are celebrating after they picked up three prizes in a national science competition for budding film-makers – thanks to Richmond Council’s Scientific Edge initiative.
Marshgate School in Richmond scooped best film in the primary schools category while Hampton School won best technical film and best entertainment at the inaugural Planet SciCast awards.
Schools from across the UK and Ireland submitted short science movies for the competition. The winners were announced during a ceremony at the National Institute of Engineering and Technology in London on Friday (25 April).
Waldegrave School and St Paul’s School in Barnes also won runners-up prizes.
The national event was inspired by the borough’s Scientific Edge project, a partnership between the Council, schools and organisations including the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in Teddington, which aims to fire young people’s enthusiasm for science.
Last September over 100 pupils submitted movies for the borough’s first Scientific Edge Film Festival. The winners were congratulated by Sir David Attenborough at a gala awards evening in York House in December before their movies were submitted for the national competition.
Cllr Malcolm Eady, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education on Richmond Council, said:
”Congratulations to all the pupils who picked up awards. It was an extremely tough competition with excellent entries from schools across the country.
“I am delighted that so many young people are being inspired by the Scientific Edge initiative.
“While our own film festival and the national awards were a lot of fun, they generated a huge amount of energy and enthusiasm for science among pupils.
“The challenge now is to sustain and transfer it into greater academic achievement and long-term interest in science. We will be working closely with our schools and with the excellent support of partners such as NPL, to make this happen.”
To find our more about Scientific Edge and the forthcoming programme of events, contact Colin Bell on 020 8979 9388 or email c.bell@richmond.gov.uk