Science: Unlocking potential

Dr Caroline Oprandi Keeping you up to date with science and technology at PACA

We have just won the £10,000 prize from the National Randstad Education Competition for the Mile Oak Primary Science Community Bus. This really is going to help make the whole project very special indeed. It already is pretty amazing though, especially with various companies donating things, such as the Brighton Energy Co-operative Company. Matt Brown said “ Brighton Energy Co-operative in conjunction with the Little Green Energy company are happy to be donating a photovoltaic solar panel with a meter, so that pupils can see how easily we can generate power from the sun”. Jackson-Moore Associates, chartered quantity surveyors and property consultants operating within the construction industry, have just donated a weather station for the bus. Thermoserv Ltd. have volunteered their services for installing the electrics. Martin Harris (Managing Director of Brighton and Hove Bus Company) said “this is one of those projects where it has been a real pleasure for everyone to be involved in”.

Moving on from the bus though and to another project. The Homeless Charity Crossover have sold all of PACA’s handmade jewellery to a lady who helps disadvantaged women and has put in an order for 50 more!

I love working in this environment where the world of educating school children collides with the world of business, social enterprise and specialists from various fields within the Universities. At PACA we are also working with Bohunt Education Trust in order to share and adopt best practice. For me, it’s about time educators and policymakers start to work together to eradicate unhealthy competition that has grown out of control between schools, rather than actively encouraging it. So let’s just share!