Innovation & Research
What you can do the change the world
What research has happened already?
We know young people are the most creative and imaginative and we want to release that potential and value their ideas and innovations to help the planet. Students have developed ideas which have had significant impact and we have many examples in climate education, radiation monitoring, genome annotation, STEM in Africa (SIA) to name a few.
The Biojoyversity platform provides a unique mechanism for students to get advice from a phenomenal group of advisors made up of leading climate scientists, industrialists, educationalists and scientists. The Earthshot prize didn’t have capacity for a youth wing so we decided to establish this mechanism which can support young people to aspire themselves to winning the Earthshot prize in future and in the meantime have agency and be valued to positively help tackle the planetary crisis.
We want to encourage school students to think outside the box, know they will find support and that their ideas are valued and make this a positive experience to help tackle the climate crisis.
We have seen amazing research school students have done, for example putting a payload in space using CERN technology and reporting data to NASA, (students published in Advances in Space Research www.sciencedirect.com), Krtin Nithiyanandam’s work on Alzheimer’s disease, students working on Multiple Sclerosis as well as diabetes and contributing to analysis of Spitzer Space Telescope data. We should never underestimate the potential of young people – the launch of the Institute for Research in Schools ( video below, founded by Becky Parker) gives a glimpse of the amazing work that students do.
Biojoyversity focuses on valuing and promoting school students to rise to their potential. Working with Katherine Priestley during the pandemic it was clear that young people are passionate about the climate and biodiversity.
They gave talks to their peers, to University students at the Conference of Youth at Strathclyde University, and empowered with knowledge and understanding from the MIT Sloan Climate Interactive climate simulator En-ROADS they showed their vision for the future as well as working with the Natural History Museum on biodiversity. Biojoyversity provides a way to support and encourage young people to have the courage of their convictions and be confident in their amazing ideas.
Biojoyversity’s shout line is Innovation Collaboration and Action for Nature -Biojoyversity hopes to promote an I CAN approach and support school student innovation and action for the planet.
Innovative Ideas
These are some examples of work students have done – we would love to share your ideas.
Will Glow in the Dark Trees Replace Streetlamps?
Will Glow in the Dark Trees Replace Streetlamps? (Photo by Luca Calderone on...
My Phenomenal Professor
‘It needs to stop being ecoanxiety, it needs to be eco-action and let's save the planet!’...
Damming the flow of decline
‘It gave me a strong sense of achievement,’ my 13 year old brother, Thomas Reynolds, tells me with...
Fabric Futures – November post
The Fabric Futures group at Langton Girls' is doing amazing work as seen in this document below. ...
The Big STEM Challenge
The Big STEM Challenge Welcome to The Big STEM Challenge, the ultimate inter-schools competition...
What is Earth Day?
Earth day is celebrated annually on the 22nd April and is an important day for climate advocates...
Save our Wild Isles
"We now have a few short years during which we can still make a choice. Where just enough remains...
The importance of sea cucumbers
Sea cucumbers, scientifically known as Holothuroidea are essential in helping with pollution in...
The Rewilding of Bison in Blean Woods
In September of 2022 shortly after the rewilding and repopulating of bison project had begun, the...
Finding Nature Blog
We recommend this blog on issues about nature and our interaction with it. It is written by Prof....
Encompass – empowering young people to reimagine planetary wellbeing
Encompass is a vision for empowering school students to have agency in the preservation of nature...
Endangered With No Protection: Manatees
In 2017, manatees were removed from the endangered list due to an increase in their population and...
Best Environmental Improvements in 2022
Whilst the future seems scary, there are many positive changes happening across the world to help...
Sustainable Fashion
As fast fashion continues to get increasingly popular due to its cheap and accessible foundations,...
What level of ecological complexity can a (small) urban nature reserve support?
Michael Jones, Director of STEM gives an overview and encourages visitors to the website and the...
Kent College Eco Warriors
In 2019, Kent College officially became an Eco School by being awarded The Green Flag from...
New Dimensions partnership
A collaborative community hub to bring together creative arts and sciences in the promotion of...
Inhaler Collection Scheme
Current thoughts - could we extend an Inhaler collection scheme? More than 50 million inhalers are...
Renewable energy production
The technology for renewable energy is always improving and becoming cheaper. To demonstrate that...
Solar Technology
Caroline has been interested in doing work related to combating climate change. This year she has...
Green Batteries
From year 9, Saiesha worked on the Ionic Liquids Project with Professor Robert Palgrave from UCL....
Biogas generator
Science and climate change have always been some of Alex's main interests, and when she joined...
STEM learning in Africa – SIA
Fara runs a non - profit organization called STEM in Africa (SIA) and their mission is to...
Mapping cosmic radiation
Students mapped cosmic radiation in Low Earth Orbit This research work has climate links and as an...
Resources and Research Projects
Great Stour Riverfest 2024
From BBC News South East Canterbury's week-long Great Stour Riverfest has begun. The festival...
Big Bang Competition
The Big Bang Competition is open for entries! It inspires students to work together, problem solve...
Big Garden Birdwatch Today!!
Big Garden Birdwatch is the UK's biggest citizen science wildlife survey. By taking part, you can...
Fabric Futures – November post
The Fabric Futures group at Langton Girls' is doing amazing work as seen in this document below. ...
Take the 25 Mile Challenge
Will you be one of 1,000 people taking part in The Greenpeace new 25 Mile Challenge? You can...
Join The Great British Bug Off this August!
Just a few more days to contribute to the Bugs matter survey. Just follow this link to find out...
Heroes and Dreamers
Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School Year 7 Present: “Heroes & Dreamers” Please share, share,...
22 ways to build biodiversity
To mark International Day for Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew have shared...
‘The Big One’ – Extinction Rebellion Protest
Extinction Rebellion united on the 21st to the 24th April for ‘The Big One’. This protest was to...
The Big STEM Challenge
The Big STEM Challenge Welcome to The Big STEM Challenge, the ultimate inter-schools competition...
What is Earth Day?
Earth day is celebrated annually on the 22nd April and is an important day for climate advocates...
Wild Weekender
From the 28th April to the 1st May, Wild Weekender by Save our Isles is an initiative to encourage...
Save our Wild Isles
"We now have a few short years during which we can still make a choice. Where just enough remains...
What the UK Spring Budget means for the Climate
On the 15th March, the Spring Budget was announced by Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor. Hunt reported...
The importance of sea cucumbers
Sea cucumbers, scientifically known as Holothuroidea are essential in helping with pollution in...
Pangolins – is all lost?
All eight species of pangolins are found on two continents. They range from vulnerable to...
The Rewilding of Bison in Blean Woods
In September of 2022 shortly after the rewilding and repopulating of bison project had begun, the...
Why Are Walruses Ending Up On UK Coasts?
On the 30th of December 2022, a walrus believed to be Thor – the same walrus that was spotted...
Yangtze Finless Porpoises
Critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise are showing signs of recovery after being on the...
Finding Nature Blog
We recommend this blog on issues about nature and our interaction with it. It is written by Prof....
Igniting Innovation-Youth Conservation Challenge, Woodland Trust
Just the perfect opportunity for students interested in biodiversity and climate issues - this...
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch
'Big Garden Birdwatch is fun, free and for everyone. And you don’t need a garden to take part!...
Anxiety in Young People about Climate Change
As young people, we feel the burden of the future world environment. This pressure cannot be...
What level of ecological complexity can a (small) urban nature reserve support?
Michael Jones, Director of STEM gives an overview and encourages visitors to the website and the...
The Systems Change Lab
https://systemschangelab.org Reaching net-zero emissions, halting biodiversity loss and building a...
Climate Action Day is an online event from Take Action Global – 3rd November
Climate Action Day is a live, online event produced by Take Action Global, that serves as the...
Dialogue in Climate Engineering with Youth – new workshops for 16-24 year olds
Are you interested in contributing to discussions on scientific, social and political responses to...
Bird and birdsong encounters improve mental health, study finds
Smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment reveals mental health benefits of birdlife ...
The 2022 Global Report of the Lancet Countdown
The health of people around the world is at the mercy of a persistent fossil fuel addiction....
The Climate Book
We still have time to change the world. From Greta Thunberg, the world's leading climate activist,...