UK: Discovering Science project wins Inspiring Educator award
Robert Rook was one of the farmers who facilitated school visits, here pictured with Stockbridge Technology Centre's Chief Executive Graham Ward OBE.
Led by Mark Thompson from Video Edge in Market Weighton, and Selby based Stockbridge Technology Centre Research Foundation, the ‘Discovering Science on the Farm' project brought together farmers, schools, parents and educational stakeholders to spread the knowledge and experience of farming and food and to connect children with the food on their plates. The project involved a combination of schools visits delivering assemblies and lessons, a bespoke web based Virtual Learning Experience, farm visits and classroom learning opportunities that included practical activities, videos and interactive lessons. Around 2,000 pupils from nine Yorkshire schools* have benefitted from farm visits through the project.
Farm based Stockbridge Technology Centre's Chief Executive, Graham Ward OBE, is delighted to win the award: "It's great that our work in educating children and teachers has been recognised with this accolade. Agriculture is a fantastic vehicle to bring all areas of the curriculum alive, not just food production."
The 2015 Bayer/FACE Awards are hosted in partnership with Bayer Crop Science and celebrate the work that many farmers across the country are doing to bring children closer to farming.
Discovering Science was a two year privately funded project within Discovering Our Countryside (a partnership between STC Research Foundation and Video Edge).
The project was supported by Nineveh Trust and STC Research Foundation together with in kind contributions from Video Edge(Mark Thompson), Robert Rook of R & J Farms, Market Weighton, Paul Temple of Wold Farm, Driffield and Rijk Zwann Seeds. Sue Brummitt, the head teacher of Gillshill School in Hull also played a key advisory part in the project.