Camborne Students’ Penguin Research Earns Top Spot at National Science Awards

CSIA Students Highly Commended for Antarctic Penguin Research at IRIS Awards

Two students from Camborne Science & International Academy (CSIA), part of the Athena Learning Trust, have been celebrated for their outstanding scientific research, earning them a nomination for ‘Best Research Project’ at the prestigious Institute for Research in Schools (IRIS) Awards.

Tracking Penguin Colonies with Satellite Data

Noah and Jack, both Year 13 students, were nominated for their project that used satellite data to track the size and movement of penguin colonies in Antarctica. Their research focused on the environmental impact on these colonies, and they discovered alarming changes in population size over the years. The duo’s project impressed the judges, earning them a spot in the top three at the awards ceremony held in London, where they also found time to visit the National History Museum.

The students’ project was part of IRIS’s Earth Observation initiative, which allows students to use satellite data to investigate global environmental phenomena such as volcanic lava flows, deforestation, and animal populations like penguins. Through this project, Noah and Jack were able to see real-world applications of satellite technology, further enriching their STEM learning experience.

A Call with an Antarctic Expert

As part of their research, the students had the opportunity to speak with Peter Fretwell, a Geospatial scientist at the British Antarctic Survey. Peter guided them through the discovery of twelve new penguin colonies using satellite methods and helped them formulate key research questions. Noah and Jack then analysed satellite data from two of these colonies, observing an initial increase in population from 2018 to 2019, followed by a drastic decline between 2020 and 2023. They also noticed a worrying reduction in sea ice, which is essential for penguins to breed, making their findings particularly significant.

Celebrating Research Excellence at CSIA

Emma Haase, Principal of CSIA, praised the students for their incredible achievement, saying, “Everyone at CSIA is so proud of Noah and Jack, they did extraordinarily well to get through to the final three research projects at the IRIS Awards. It’s great to work so closely with IRIS to achieve their aim of putting research in schools on the national agenda. At CSIA we have made innovation part of our learning culture, and I can’t wait to see what research projects our students come up with this year.”

Building Future Researchers

Every Year 12 student at CSIA undertakes a research project as part of the school’s commitment to STEM education. The school’s innovative approach aims to cultivate key skills like self-confidence, leadership, and resilience, all while promoting academic excellence.

For more information about CSIA, which is rated ‘Outstanding’ for Sixth Form provision and ‘Good’ across other key areas, visit Camborne Science & International Academy.