Biology Society 2011-12

Dr Emily Culme Seymour: Stem cell research and regenerative medicine
On Wednesday 7 March, Dr Emily Culme Seymour, from the London Regenerative Medicine Network, gave a talk to students about the amazing developments in stem cell research and regenerative medicine. Her exploration of cell therapies including artificial skin engaged the scientific imagination of all present. The talk, much like Prof Tavaré's the week before, showed how scientists of all disciplines were working together with businesses, lawyers and charities to better understand cell biology and what this can mean for our future.

Professor Simon Tavaré: Maths and Cancer
On Wednesday 29 February, as part of the Biology Society, Professor Simon Tavaré FRS spoke about 'Maths and Cancer'. Professor Tavaré, from the University of Cambridge, explored the biological phenomenon of cancer, and how we were using several approaches to tackle this disease. He explained that the biology of the genome was forcing computer scientists and engineers to be even more creative in processing huge sets of data. The students were impressed with his presentation and asked thoughtful questions. Professor Tavaré fully enjoyed his time back at school.

Professor Robert Hider: Drug Design
Professor Hider of Kings College London spoke on Drug Design on Wednesday 23 November; an excellent talk for those interested in studying Medicine or Biology.

Dr Elaine Allan: Bacteria sense all sorts
On Wednesday 7 December, Dr Elaine Allan of UCL spoke about ‘Bacteria sense all sorts', which was of particular interest to those who wish to expand their understanding of genetics, micro-organisms and behaviour. 

Lower Sixth Biology Trip to Madagascar, 2011

The Biology department is famous for their audacious trips and this year proved no exception. Our group of 27 are still surprised at how lucky we were to explore the wonders of Madagascar.

Travelling into the unknown, we arrived in the capital Antananarivo (Tana) for a night before heading down south to Fort Dauphin, a port town on the southern coast. After a seven-hour experience on a truck we finally arrived at Ifotaka and the camp where we would spend the next week. The conditions of the camp were basic with tents, bucket showers and a hole in the ground, and rice was our staple diet.

We worked with scientists and PhD students on preserving five different sections of the Mandray Valley: birds, lemurs, herps, vegetation and invasive plants. The data we helped gather is going towards a report for UNESCO to make the Mandray Valley a protected biosphere. In each section we helped collect data through different methods such as mist netting for the birds and transits for the invasive plants, which involved walking in a straight line through the vegetation. We won’t miss the 5.30 wake-up calls in the cold and dark, but walking barefooted across the Mandrare River at dawn and dusk is something we are not likely to forget.

One of the most rewarding moments of the trip was visiting the village of Ifotaka to see the new classroom built for the school from the money we had raised during the quiz night and junior school disco. The gratitude shown by the headmaster touched us all. After saying a sad goodbye to the camp and the Madagascan students, we headed all the way up north to Nosy Be, an island off the north-east coast. The camp we stayed in was in an idyllic spot on a quieter side of the island.

The next week comprised of snorkelling or completing our PADI dive course around Madagascar’s astonishing variety of coral and fish. Through lectures during the day our knowledge on reef ecology expanded hugely. The sun and the beach proved a completely different experience to our time down south, with both being equally unforgettable. Mrs Pitcher, Mrs Watson, Miss Cardon and Mr Vincent admirably organised and looked after us all, and we are truly thankful to them for taking us on this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Fleur Nash

Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, 2008

During the summer holidays, 14 Lower Sixth students explored the remote Amazon jungle, rafted down rapids in the cloud forest, snorkelled with sea lions, penguins and turtles in the Galapagos Islands and trekked through the high Andes at around 4000m.

They experienced lemon-flavoured ants, tarantulas and tailless whip scorpions the size of side plates, shimmering blue butterflies with a six-inch wingspan, a beetle with bioluminescent headlights, macaws and monkeys, stinging caterpillars and bullet ants. They swam in volcanic hot springs, icy streams and waterfalls, mud-wrestled on the bank of the Shiripuno River, fished for piranhas, tried shooting a two-metre-long blow gun and visited a village of Huaorani Indians where they donated some gifts to the school. One of the students commented that the one-roomed school was the same size as the girls’ toilet at Sevenoaks.

All this they took in their stride, learning from and enjoying all these new and amazing experiences. From their fundraising prior to the expedition they also donated a quantity of science equipment, including three microscopes, to a school in Quito, as well as cash donations to science research at the Shiripuno Field Station and a children’s charity in the city of Guayacil.