Thirty year 13 students participated in a Biology Study Tour,
which involved talks and workshops at
the Sanger Centre, UCL, London Zoo and the Natural History Museum
which involved talks and workshops at
the Sanger Centre, UCL, London Zoo and the Natural History Museum
2011
On the 15th September 30 AS Biology pupils along with 4 teachers left early in the morning from Belfast International Airport to London Luton. We arrived in the morning and began our journey to the Sanger Centre, a couple of miles outside Cambridge. As we approached the institute w were all very impressed at the structure of the fantastic building. The Sanger Centre is most renowned for playing a huge role in sequencing the human genome.
The project focuses on understanding the role of genetics in health and disease and aims to provide diagnostics, treatments and therapies that will help reduce global health problems e.g. cancers. At the centre we were given a talk about the work that goes on in the project and we were able to participate in a workshop which was then followed by a guided tour of the centre which was full
of expensive machinery, where one machine was the same price as a Ferrari! The workshop was then finished off with an ethical discussion on whether we should own the information about our own genes which could affect our later decisions in life and predict what diseases we could get. We then continued our journey to the student halls of the University of London where we were to stay those three nights. That night we went to Pizza Express down the road from the halls and we had an enjoyable evening then we had an early night in preparation of the next day.
The next morning we had another early start where we visited the Biological Science departments of University College London. We were given a lecture about the history of the university including famous celebrities that had also attended the university including Ricky Gervais and members of Coldplay. We learnt about different biological courses that we could study and the entrance requirements that were needed; this was very helpful as most people on the trip were considering a future which involved science.
Following this we walked through Regent’s Park where we stopped to feed some squirrels! We arrived at London Zoo and everyone was quite tired after the long walk however we soon became enthusiastic again to have a look around the zoo and what it had to offer. We were allowed to walk around the zoo by ourselves and we were amazed at the large variety of different animals and how it gave home to many endangered species. When we left we got the tube then walked to Covent Gardens where we were able to have free time to look around the shops – Jack Wills being the favourite shop to visit! We then walked through London enabling us to do some sight seeing where we saw landmarks such as; Trafalgar Square, caught a glimpse of Buckingham Palace, Horse Guards Parade, Big Ben, Downing Street and Westminster Abbey. As it began to get dark we took a flight on the London Eye which was an incredible experience as we got to see Londonwhen it was all lit up and it looked beautiful! For dinner we went to a Mexican restaurant which had a great atmosphere to it and then we got the busy tube back to our halls.
Saturday was the day we were all eagerly awaiting. We set off to the Natural History Museum which was very impressive due to the vast amount of different exhibitions. We then went to the London Science Museum where we were able to see the first DNA molecule structure ever made by Watson and Crick which then went on to influence and challenge many biological theories. We were then allowed to shop along Oxford Street by ourselves which was an exciting, yet tiring process. We then went to the cinema in Leicester Square and out for a Chinese in China Town where we enjoyed our last dinner together.
The next day was the day that we never wanted to arrive. No one wanted to leave the hustle and bustle of London and everything that it had to offer. We
left our halls and made our way to Luton and then we finally arrived at Belfast International that afternoon. The London trip gave us a great opportunity to learn about different areas of biology that we could study when we leave school and it expanded our knowledge of different aspects of the subject which will help us to make career choices in the future. Overall it was an amazing experience as many girls on the trip had never been to London before and no one wanted to go home!
Rebecca
Robinson
2010
Biology London Study Trip 2010
On the 9th of September, a group of 30 AS Biology students and four of our teachers met early in the morning at Belfast City Airport to embark on a study trip to London. Despite the early start, we were all buzzing with excitement for what the next few days would bring us, as we landed in Luton. There we were met by coach which took us to our first destination: the Sanger Institute Centre for Genome Research in Cambridge.
On arrival, we were taken into a classroom and received a lecture about the Human Genome Project; it was fascinating to learn how much work that the centre had contributed towards and what a colossal task it was. This was followed by a guided tour of the centre, including the labs where DNA sequencing takes place and the huge computer system with over a terabyte of memory. We ended the visit with a discussion of the ethical issues connected to who should own the information about our genomes and DNA.
That evening we had an eventful journey to LSE student halls, involving a pheasant flying into, and smashing, the windscreen of the coach! Dinner in Pizza Express completed the day perfectly.
After an early night, we woke up well rested, and visited the Biological Sciences Department of University College London, where we were given a talk on the different types of science related courses offered by the university and entrance requirements. This caused so much interest that a number of girls are researching the possibility of studying Biological Sciences at a London university! Following a brisk walk and refreshing lunch in regent’s Park, the afternoons agenda was a visit to London Zoo. An education officer gave an interactive lecture on the Evolution of Primates in which we were able to hold and analyse the skulls of various primates. We then had free time to explore the Zoo, with the big cats being a firm favourite.
Before dinner at a gorgeous Mexican restaurant, sight seeing was in order. We walked around many tourist attractions including; Trafalgar Square, Horse Guards’ parade, Big Ben, the Palace of Westminster and Downing Street, finishing with a flight on the London Eye during sunset. It was beautiful to see the sights in real life which everyone knows from the television. On the way home, celebrities were spotted, and the tube was a first time experience for many of us!
Saturday was the day we had all been waiting for – hours of shopping! However, the natural History Museum was first, and exhibited some amazing displays. I would say we all wanted to stay there longer, even if it meant cutting shopping time short. The entertainment that night was a meal in China Town and trip to see a film in Leicester Square; an amazing place to be at night.
Suddenly the last day was upon us and we were all devastated to be heading home, despite all the rushing to fit in all of the activities! Overall everyone was thankful to have been given the chance to have this educational and interesting opportunity, which provided us all with information for universities to consider in the future, some insight into completing UCAS forms and a chance to expand our knowledge of Biology. We all agreed we wished we could have stayed longer!
On the 9th of September, a group of 30 AS Biology students and four of our teachers met early in the morning at Belfast City Airport to embark on a study trip to London. Despite the early start, we were all buzzing with excitement for what the next few days would bring us, as we landed in Luton. There we were met by coach which took us to our first destination: the Sanger Institute Centre for Genome Research in Cambridge.
On arrival, we were taken into a classroom and received a lecture about the Human Genome Project; it was fascinating to learn how much work that the centre had contributed towards and what a colossal task it was. This was followed by a guided tour of the centre, including the labs where DNA sequencing takes place and the huge computer system with over a terabyte of memory. We ended the visit with a discussion of the ethical issues connected to who should own the information about our genomes and DNA.
That evening we had an eventful journey to LSE student halls, involving a pheasant flying into, and smashing, the windscreen of the coach! Dinner in Pizza Express completed the day perfectly.
After an early night, we woke up well rested, and visited the Biological Sciences Department of University College London, where we were given a talk on the different types of science related courses offered by the university and entrance requirements. This caused so much interest that a number of girls are researching the possibility of studying Biological Sciences at a London university! Following a brisk walk and refreshing lunch in regent’s Park, the afternoons agenda was a visit to London Zoo. An education officer gave an interactive lecture on the Evolution of Primates in which we were able to hold and analyse the skulls of various primates. We then had free time to explore the Zoo, with the big cats being a firm favourite.
Before dinner at a gorgeous Mexican restaurant, sight seeing was in order. We walked around many tourist attractions including; Trafalgar Square, Horse Guards’ parade, Big Ben, the Palace of Westminster and Downing Street, finishing with a flight on the London Eye during sunset. It was beautiful to see the sights in real life which everyone knows from the television. On the way home, celebrities were spotted, and the tube was a first time experience for many of us!
Saturday was the day we had all been waiting for – hours of shopping! However, the natural History Museum was first, and exhibited some amazing displays. I would say we all wanted to stay there longer, even if it meant cutting shopping time short. The entertainment that night was a meal in China Town and trip to see a film in Leicester Square; an amazing place to be at night.
Suddenly the last day was upon us and we were all devastated to be heading home, despite all the rushing to fit in all of the activities! Overall everyone was thankful to have been given the chance to have this educational and interesting opportunity, which provided us all with information for universities to consider in the future, some insight into completing UCAS forms and a chance to expand our knowledge of Biology. We all agreed we wished we could have stayed longer!