The well-known astrophysicist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell has opened new state-of-the-art science and technology buildings at Haileybury School in Hertfordshire, UK.
Dame Jocelyn, who co-authored a Nobel Prize winning paper, gave the opening speech to guests, pupils, alumni and staff including the master of Haileybury, Martin Collier.
The buildings include a new Research Centre which is home to international and pioneering research including the prestigious Stan-X project, a partnership with scientists at Oxford University and Stanford University in the US.
The project involves a revolutionary study of genetics using fruit flies, contributing to efforts to find cures for diseases such as diabetes and pancreatic cancer.
Haileybury is the first school in Europe to participate in Stan-X and research findings co-authored by 16 Haileybury pupils, former pupils and instructors have already been published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal, G3- Genes, Genomes and Genetics.
In addition, a space mission is planned to launch a CubeSat into space so that pupils can learn about spacecraft systems engineering, mission planning and orbital mechanics. This will make Haileybury the first secondary school in Europe to launch a CubeSat into space and pupils will benefit from a special partnership with BAE Systems, learning from leading industry experts.
Haileybury has also joined the worldwide Drinkable Rivers citizen science programme, establishing its own hub to help monitor and preserve the health of the River Lea. Pupils will play a vital role in tracking and protecting the health of the river.
The buildings also offer an innovative robotics programme that allows pupils to explore cutting-edge developments in autonomous function within robotics and programming. As part of this, the school has launched two Vex Robotics teams and is competing with other schools at regional and national levels.
Martin Collier, the master at Haileybury, said: “Today is an important milestone in Haileybury’s history. The opening of our innovative science and technology buildings is crucial to ensure we continue to push boundaries to provide the best possible teaching and learning opportunities for our pupils, staff and community.
“The opening ceremony was an excellent opportunity to come together to celebrate. Thank you to our renowned guest of honour, Dame Jocelyn Burnell Bell, for her inspiring speech as well as our partners who are helping to make some of these really exciting initiatives come to life.
“At Haileybury, we believe the future workforce and society more broadly is going to be shaped by science and the interconnecting disciplines. That is why we have commissioned these buildings to ensure our pupils not only learn science but have the opportunity to become scientists themselves.
“This will equip them with the knowledge, skills and intellectual curiosity to thrive in their careers, inspiring the next generation of scientists, mechanics and engineers.”
Molly, a sixth form pupil at Haileybury, said:
“The SciTech centre has really helped enhance my learning as a researcher. Being able to discover things for myself by creating my own research is a very important skill and I think the new facilities support that really well.
“Working in the new Stan-X lab also makes me feel a strong sense of pride for my school and the opportunities that it can offer with all the new equipment. Especially in sixth form where lots of my studying is done independently, having the new research area gives me space to get on with my work in free time.”