British Science Week at RHB: Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in STEM

British Science Week at RHB was a celebration of curiosity, creativity, and discovery, packed with hands-on experiences designed to inspire our students, especially the next generation of female scientists.

Kashuf and Melody, our Sixth Form Science Prefects, kicked off Science Week in Monday’s assembly and collaborated with the Science team to design and lead engaging activities that ignited curiosity and enthusiasm for science among students across the school.

Students were buzzing with excitement as visiting speakers from The University of Bath delivered a fascinating talk on the evolution of insects. Exploring how these incredible creatures have adapted over millions of years - from camouflage techniques like swaying stick insects to their ever-changing responses to the environment - students were captivated by the wonders of nature. The highlight of the session saw them bravely getting hands-on with millipedes and stick insects, asking insightful questions and showing brilliant curiosity throughout.

The excitement continued with our Science Taskmaster competition, where students tackled challenges like constructing catapults from marshmallows and sticks, launching pom-poms the furthest, and experimenting with centrifugal force. With teamwork and ingenuity on full display, it was a fantastic showcase of science in action.

Meanwhile, the House Science Quiz saw teams battling it out through sound rounds, anagrams, and general knowledge questions. Teams gave it their all in a spirited competition. In the end, Brontë emerged victorious, but a huge well done to everyone who took part. It was a fantastic display of curiosity and teamwork.

Year 13 A-level Chemists went to The University of Bath to analyse the aspirin they made in lessons recently. They learnt that a nuclear magnetic resonance machine costs around £500,000 and is cooled by liquid helium at -273 Celsius, and that Infra Red machines use diamonds to intensify the signal. The aspirin they made turned out to be 99% pure and at the end they had a problem solving session run by the university staff which reinforced their learning on spectroscopy before their A-level examinations this year. 

British Science Week was a fantastic reminder of the importance of girls in STEM, showcasing the talent, confidence, and enthusiasm of our students. Whether testing their knowledge, problem-solving in creative challenges, or stepping into real-world scientific research, our girls demonstrated that the future of STEM is bright.

A huge well done to everyone who took part, we can’t wait to see where your scientific journeys take you next.