Pupils receive national journalism acclaim

Beech House School

Science Museum project uncovers the next generation of environmental journalists.

The investigative journalism of pupils at Beech House school has won critical acclaim in a nationwide Science Museum project. The articles written by the students will be revealed to the public at the Manchester Museum of Science & Industry on 4 July, as part of a touring outreach exhibition which will also show in the London Science Museum.

The Science Museum’s Climate Science Outreach Project invited 48 schools to submit articles about local issues that matter to the students, covering diverse topics from wind farms to hedgehog populations, which have been incorporated into a one-off publication entitled ATMOS.

The high quality of submissions led the Science Museum to put them forward for ‘peer review’ with The Guardian newspaper - famed for its environmental credentials.

Beech House School received a commendation for an article exploring climate change issues in Rochdale, undertaking primary research into the attitudes of local people. Guardian Environment Editor John Vidal ranked the article in the top four nationwide and said: “Good attempt to analyse a town’s two big issues - the end of a landfill site and the coming of a wind farm.”

The collaboration is the second instalment of the Climate Science Outreach Project, a three-year scheme working in partnership with museums and science centres across the UK. The project works with students aged 13–14 years and uses science communication as a means of exploring the subject of climate change.

Dani Williams, Science Museum Outreach Project Coordinator said: “The work is impressive in its quality and scope; the breadth of issues covered; the depth of understanding and the over-riding acceptance of personal and collective responsibility for addressing environmental issues.

“The Outreach scheme aims to increase young people’s understanding of climate science and inspire them to become climate change ambassadors in their schools or communities. They have certainly done that!”

The exhibition opens at the National Railway Museum, York on 13 June, before touring to At-Bristol between 20 and 24 June, the Science Museum between 27 and 30 June and finally the Manchester Museum of Science & Industry between 4 and 9 July.

The exhibition is part of the Science Museum’s three-year Climate Changing programme – a series of thought-provoking events that accompanies the Atmosphere ...exploring climate science gallery.

The Atmosphere gallery and the Climate Changing programme have been made possible by support from Principal Sponsors Shell and Siemens, Major Sponsor Bank of America Merrill Lynch, major funder the Garfield Weston Foundation, and with additional support from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Patrons of the Science Museum and members of the Founders Circle: Climate Changing programme: Accenture, Bayer and Barclays.