Talented science students from a Derby school gave their local MP the Question Time treatment at a special event to mark the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26.
Amanda Solloway, MP for Derby North, visited The Bemrose School in Uttoxeter Road to admire its new £25m refurbishment as well as talk to students in a science class.
The students, who are all taking triple science at GCSE, had the opportunity to pose environmental questions to the MP in a COP26 inspired event.
Amanda Solloway, MP for Derby North, talking to pupils at The Bemrose School.
Students asked Amanda a range of questions, including her opinion on the future of automobile transport with regards to electric vehicles, food chains and sustainability and how much time there was left for people and Governments to act on climate change.
Answering pupils’ questions, Amanda spoke of the seriousness of the environmental damage now being seen, and of the need to balance protecting the planet with the practicalities of living modern life.
But she said a training in science was the best way for the younger generation to help develop solutions to the vastly complicated climate change situation.
“It’s going to be science that make the difference and every single one of you can help make that difference,” she said thanking pupils for choosing to study science.
She added that the UK Government was also doing “an awful lot that we should be proud of”, when it came to environmental matters. She also encouraged pupils to write to their own MPs and voice their concerns about climate change.
Executive head teacher Neil Wilkinson said: “We’d like to thank Amanda Solloway for taking time out of her hectic schedule to visit the school.
“I think it’s really important that children have the opportunity to see a working politician, to be able to introduce themselves to them, talk to them and that they learn how the British political system works.
“Naturally, COP26 is important to all of us, but especially the young generation. Our children have been studying these highly topical debates as part of their science work.
“As a school we work hard to reduce our carbon footprint and we have made many efforts, reducing our water consumption and upcycling where we can. We throw nothing away at Bemrose if we can keep it for re-use.”
The Bemrose School has undergone an extensive renovation over a period of four years, which was finally completed in 2021. Environmental measures include new wiring and electrics installed throughout, making the school more energy efficient.
Movement sensors on the lights mean they turn off automatically and water fountains are available on each corridor for the refilling of water bottles, allowing the school to improve its carbon footprint.
