Harlow pupils get a lesson in science from Public Health England
Hundreds of pupils in Harlow take part in interactive workshops with scientists as part of National British Science Week.
National British Science Week is an annual event encouraging people to hold events to involve people in scientific activities.
The sessions were held in partnership with Science Alive which is based at Harlow Leisurezone and gave the chance for pupils to discover what life is like for a Public Health England (PHE) microbiologist and to hear more about PHE’s plans to create a world-class Science Hub in Harlow.
There were 8 primary schools and 3 secondary schools taking part, and PHE plan to hold a similar event later in the year.
Derren Ready, Clinical Scientist at PHE said:
Inspiring young people to consider a career in science is really important to us at Public Health England. I speak for all of the scientists who took part when I say that we thoroughly enjoyed meeting the pupils and look forward to working with more Harlow schools in the future.
Dean Doyles, Phase Leader at Potter Street Academy said:
The workshops were brilliant, interactive and greatly complemented the learning our pupils are doing in science through the National Curriculum.
PHE plans to create a campus at the vacant GSK site at the Pinnacles, where it will relocate facilities from Porton in Wiltshire and Colindale in north London as well as its headquarters functions. The Science Hub planned to be fully operational by 2024, will create a centre of excellence for research, health improvement and protection and bring together world-renowned scientists working to protect and improve the health of the nation.
PHE is hoping to submit a planning application for the campus in the summer. For up to date information about PHE’s plans visit www.gov.uk/phe/harlow.
For further information please contact Amy Burgess on 07584 539 633 or email amy.burgess@phe.gov.uk.
Background
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Public Health England exists to protect and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. It does this through world-class science, knowledge and intelligence, advocacy, partnerships and the delivery of specialist public health services. PHE is an operationally autonomous executive agency of the Department of Health. Follow us on Twitter: @PHE_uk and Facebook: www.facebook.com/PublicHealthEngland.
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British Science Week is an annual event and in 2017 took place on 10 to 19 March. More information can be found at www.britishscienceweek.org.
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Schools which attended the sessions were: Downs Primary School, Churchgate Primary School, Harlowbury Primary School, Katherines Primary School, Tanys Dell Primary School, Jerounds Primary School, Holy Cross Primary School, Potter Street Primary School, Passmores Academy, Mark Hall Academy and Burnt Mill Academy.
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PHE submitted an Outline Business Case to Government in July 2014. An interim decision was taken in September 2015 to move the majority of PHE functions from Porton to Harlow. In November the Government supported a further proposal to move PHE science facilities at Colindale to Harlow to create a single integrated campus.
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PHE is now working to take the proposal to full planning with an outline planning application expected to be submitted over summer 2017.
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It is hoped the Science Hub will be fully operational by 2024 with the first building work expected to start in 2019.