Geoscientist Online

The North West Regional Group held a successful Schools' Challenge, writes Nik Reynolds.

Unfortunately, only two schools were competing this year and both fielded Lower 6th form students. Altrincham Grammar School for Boys were returning and hosting winners from the final at Burlington House last year. Bury Grammar School for Girls were new to the competition, though as they do not have a Geology A-level course, they fielded students studying physical geography. However, one student from Bury was looking to read geology for her degree.

The presentations were: Bury Grammar: Vesuvius and the risk associated with eruption. Altrincham Grammar: The geology of Venus. Judging the competition were Maria Convery (Senior Hydrogeologist at Arcadis), Catherine Kenny (Independent geotechnical engineer and technician at Knutsford High School), Professor Mike Burton (Chair of Volcanology at Manchester University) and Andrew Moore (WSP Technical Director)

I chaired the event (as I was once a pupil at Altrincham Grammar School!). Both presentations were of exception quality, with outstanding posters. The judges remarked that the poster and presentation from Bury was of especially high quality. Unfortunately, and perhaps unsurprisingly, Bury did not fare so well in the quiz. We hope that Bury compete next year, and hope they were not put off.

Both teams were awarded certificates for their achievement. Altrincham Grammar School for Boys were presented again with the Treak Cliff Cavern Mine mounted specimen of Blue John. Bury Grammar School for Girls were presented with the Weardale Mine fluorite mounted specimen.

(left) L-R: Judges Maria Convery (Senior Hydrogeologist at Arcadis), Catherine Kenny (Independent geotechnical engineer and technician at Knutsford High School), Professor Mike Burton (Chair of Volcanology at Manchester University) and Andrew Moore (WSP Technical Director)

(right) Bury Grammar School for Girls team receive the Weardale Mine fluorite mounted specimen