Young conservationists at Lawn Manor Academy are taking a proactive stance to protect the oceans, as the school launches its Ocean Club, fostering the next generation of marine advocates in Swindon.
With a current membership of 25 students spanning Years 8, 10, and 11, the Ocean Club meets weekly, harnessing the students’ science, maths, and engineering skills to explore innovative solutions to environmental challenges affecting the ocean.
The pupils are developing an in-depth understanding of the oceans’ crucial role in the planet’s health and are gearing up for a beach clean expedition to Brighton, collaborating with other schools in the UK running their own Ocean Club.
The initiative is part of a broader programme involving schools globally, spearheaded by KBR, a forward-thinking science, technology, and engineering organisation collaborating with governments and businesses for a sustainable future. KBR’s sustainability initiative, One Ocean, focuses on engineering solutions to address one of the most pressing environmental challenges – the proliferation of plastics in the ocean.
Kirsty Staff, Head of Geography at Lawn Manor Academy said: “Our pupils are very engaged with environmental issues and feel passionately about the plight of the oceans. With nine million tons of plastics entering the oceans every year and 700 marine species at risk of becoming extinct because of plastics in the seas, it’s an issue they’re motivated to help find a solution for.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to work with an outside company and see how real-life engineering and science skills can be applied to find answers to our climate crisis. Not only will they gain a really good understanding of the issue of ocean pollution but they will also be working alongside pupils from other schools across the country, as well as internationally, to make a difference to the future of our world.”
Lawn Manor Academy, part of the Ascend Learning Trust, for more information, visit www.lawnmanor.org.
